title: Early results of arthroscopic lateral retinacular release in patellofemoral osteoarthritis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to define the postoperative course of middle-aged and elderly patients with patellar chondral lesions after lateral retinacular release and joint debridement. Thirty-five patients in their fifth to seventh decades with Grades 2-4 chondral lesions of the patellofemoral joint, with no patellar instability or severe malalignment, underwent lateral retinacular release and patellofemoral joint debridement by bipolar radiofrequency. Both VAS and WOMAC scores in all three lesion grades were significantly reduced postoperatively. The greatest decrease was observed in the first visit at 3 months, and the pain level continued at about the same level over the next 24 months without significant changes. There were no significant differences between the three lesion grades with respect to changes in VAS scores at each visit. Thermal lateral retinacular release improves the subjective condition of the patient by reducing pain, especially in the postoperative first 3 months.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Department of Second Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Turkey. balemdaroglu@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: Kadir Bahadir
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Alemdaroğlu
authors.forename: Oğuzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cimen
authors.forename: Nevres Hürriyet
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Aydoğan
authors.forename: Doğan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atlihan
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iltar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index