title: SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PATELLOFEMORAL INSTABILITY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe functional outcomes following surgical treatment of patients with patellofemoral instability submitted to patellar realignment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study evaluating 34 operated knees for patellofemoral instability between 1989 and 2004. The patients were evaluated in the late postoperative period when a functional questionnaire was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a mean follow-up time of 6 years and 5 months, the mean score was 82.94 in the surgical group (p=0.00037). The results of this investigation showed pain relief in 97.05% and low rate of recurrent dislocation (5.88%), although lower scores were seen in intense articular activities (squatting, running and jumping). No patient developed osteoarthritis while being followed up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The procedure for joint described in this paper was shown to be effective for treating patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Locomotor Apparatus, UFMG; Head of Medical Residency, Hospital das Clínicas, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Antônio Percope
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Preceptor of Medical Residency, Department of Orthopedics, Hospital das Clínicas, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Moreira
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Abreu E Silva
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist and Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Institute Biocor, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Machado
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: Preceptor of Medical Residency, Hospital das Clínicas, UFMG; Orthopedic Oncology Surgeon, Hospital das Clínicas, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Moreira
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Teixeira
keywords: Joint instability; Knee; Patella