Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament with gracilis tendon autograft in transverse patellar drill holes.
OBJECTIVE
We present clinical results in a case series of 44 patients with medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction with 12 to 32 months' follow-up.


METHODS
Reconstruction was performed via gracilis tendon autograft looped through 2 transverse 4.5-mm drill holes in the patella and fixed at the natural MPFL insertion site on the medial femoral condyle with an interference screw. At follow-up, Kujala scores, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores, objective knee function, complications, and reoperations were assessed.


RESULTS
Only 1 patella redislocation was observed. Subluxation occurred in 3 patients, whereas 4 patients had chronic pain at follow-up, all of whom had cartilage injury at surgery. The Kujala knee function score improved overall from 46 points (range, 12 to 67 points) to 84 points (range, 62 to 100 points) at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
MPFL reconstruction with double transverse patella drill holes and a gracilis tendon graft provides good postoperative patellar stability. Postoperative pain seems to be related to the degree of patellofemoral injury found at surgery.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Christiansen
Svend Erik
SE
Division of Sportstrauma, Orthopaedic Department, Arhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark.
Jacobsen
Bent W
BW
Lund
Bent
B
Lind
Martin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery; D031222:Patellar Dislocation / Q000601:surgery*; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous