title: Imaging assessment of patellar instability and its treatment in children and adolescents.
abstract: Transient patellar dislocation is a common entity in children and adolescents, characterized by lateral dislocation of the patella, usually with spontaneous reduction. Many predisposing conditions have been described, including trochlear dysplasia, excessive lateral patellar tilt, patella alta and lateralization of the tibial tuberosity. Associated injuries are bone bruises of the patella and lateral femoral condyle, tears of the medial retinaculum that include the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), tears of the vastus medialis obliquus muscle, injuries of articular cartilage, and intra-articular bodies. Children who are refractory to conservative management, have a large cartilage defect, or are at substantial risk for recurrent dislocations are candidates for surgical procedures to prevent future dislocations. Procedures can include MPFL repair or reconstruction, tibial tubercle repositioning and lateral retinacular release. The purpose of this review is to illustrate the imaging findings of transient patellar dislocation in the acute setting, the normal imaging appearance after surgical intervention, and post-surgical complications.
authors: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 1997, MS 721, Milwaukee, WI, 53211-1997, USA. arthurbmeyers@yahoo.com.
authors: Arthur B
authors: AB
authors: Meyers
authors: Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors: Tal
authors: T
authors: Laor
authors: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 1997, MS 721, Milwaukee, WI, 53211-1997, USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Sharafinski
authors: Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Zbojniewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D031222:Patellar Dislocation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Children; Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medial patellofemoral ligament; Patellar instability; Patellar tracking; Radiography; Tibial tubercle; Transient patellar dislocation