title: Arthroscopic proximal realignment of the patella for recurrent instability: report of a new surgical technique with 1 to 7 years of follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to study the 1- to 7-year results of a new arthroscopic technique for recurrent lateral patellar dislocation or subluxation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 38 knees in 37 patients treated over a period of 7 years; 36 knees in 35 patients were available for review (2 were lost to follow-up). There were 26 female and 9 male patients. All patients were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 51 months (range, 1 to 7 years). The indications for surgery were recurrent dislocation in 23 knees and recurrent subluxation in 13 knees. Arthroscopic evaluation and lateral release was carried out routinely via 4 portals. A fifth medial patellar portal was used for medial plication with 3 to 7 nonabsorbable sutures. This surgical technique of realignment of the patella was first used in 1994.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At final follow-up, the median Lysholm score improved from 17 to 70. The results were excellent or good in 28 of 36 knees (78%), fair in 4 (11%), and poor in 4 (11%). Subjective improvement was reported by 89% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic realignment of the patella is a procedure with less morbidity and faster rehabilitation, and the results are comparable to, if not better than, those of the established open procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Corbett Hospital NHS Trust, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England.
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery*; D031221:Knee Dislocation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors