Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in Adolescents Affected by Patellar Instability

Abstract

Patellar instability is a heterogeneous group of morphological and functional disorders of the knee extensor mechanism. The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) has been recognized as being important in stabilizing the patella and preventing lateral patellar dislocation. Recurrent dislocations in the pediatric population may benefit from surgical intervention. The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate adolescent patients treated with surgical reconstruction of medial patello-femoral ligament. Between January 2009 and December 2014, seven patients with patellar instability were treated at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the University of Catania, Sicily. Five patients (71.4%) were female and two (28.6%) were male. The mean age at the time of surgery was 14.9 ± 1.1 years (range 13–16 years). All cases were treated with reconstruction of the MPFL. Clinical outcomes and complications were reported. Mean follow-up was 26.1 ± 10.9 months (range 12–46 months). Evaluation at two years after surgery identified an average Knee Society Score (KSS) of 94.3 ± 7.4 (range 78–100). An excellent result was obtained in six patients (85.7%) and a good result was obtained in one patient (14.3%). A recurrence was reported in one patient (14.3%). This study shows that surgical treatment of patellar instability by reconstruction of MPFL leads to satisfying results at mid-term follow-up.

1. Introduction

Patellar instability is a heterogeneous group of morphological and functional disorders of the knee extensor mechanism, which represents the most common knee injuries in the pediatric population [1,2,3]. The rates of acute, traumatic patellar dislocation peaks among adolescents 15 to 19 years old, with an incidence of 11.19 people per 100,000 years [4]. Recognized predisposing factors of patellar instability are genu valgum, patella alta, ligament laxity, contracture of the lateral patellar soft tissues, hypoplasia of the lateral femoral condyle, a laterally located tibial tubercle, vastus medialis insufficiency, and abnormal attachment of the iliotibial tract. Furthermore, it is well known that dislocation of the patella can cause patellofemoral pain and degenerative arthritis [5].

The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) has been recognized as being important in stabilizing the patella and preventing lateral patellar dislocation, and thus it is the primary restraint in lateral patellar dislocation [6]. The MPFL contributes to controlling patellar tilt and translation. MPFL distension can be evaluated clinically, based on the patellar apprehension test and on other recently introduced tests. Patellar tilt and translation can be measured on MRI or CT images (taken with the knee extended and the quadriceps contracted or relaxed) [7]. Although non-operative treatment remains the gold standard of treatment after primary patellar dislocation without osteochondral fragments [8,9,10], recurrent dislocations in this population may benefit from surgical intervention. Reconstruction of the MPFL prevents lateral patellar dislocation, reporting good results in the treatment of children [11,12,13].

The aim of this study is to evaluate retrospectively adolescent patients treated with surgical reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL).

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Patients and Demographics

Between January 2009 and December 2014, seven patients with patellar instability were treated at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the University of Catania.

Five patients (71.4%) were female and two (28.6%) were male. The mean age at the time of surgery was 14.9 ± 1.1 years (range 13–16 years).

In all cases, surgical treatment was required when patellar dislocation had occurred more than twice, after the failure of conservative treatment for an average of six months.

2.2. Surgical Technique

All patients first underwent a standard diagnostic arthroscopy to evaluate patellar tracking as well as additional intra-articular pathology. This was followed by open MPFL reconstruction.

For the surgical option, the ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon was harvested in a standard fashion in six cases for the reconstruction of the MPFL, while the gracilis tendon was used in only one case.

The graft was then folded in half. A longitudinal incision was performed between the midline and the medial border of the patella. The medial third of the patella was exposed by subperiosteal dissection. Two holes were drilled on the medial side of the patella and connected with a curved curette. A second tunnel was executed along the patella. Another surgical incision was made anteriorly to the palpable ridge linking the medial femoral epicondyle and the adductor tubercle. A pin was positioned at the insertion site of the MPFL near the medial epicondyle and passed toward the lateral side of the femur. A loop of suture was passed around the pin and through one of the patellar tunnels. The looped end of the graft was inserted into the femoral tunnel and fixed with absorbable interference screw. Next, the free ends of the graft were passed through the retinacular interval and then through the patellar tunnels using a curved suture passer. The free graft arms were successively folded back and sutured on themselves. The graft was fixed at the greatest length, as determined by isometry. Patellar mobility and range of motion were checked. The remnant of the native MPFL was sutured to the graft, and the retinaculum was closed over the graft.

2.3. Rehabilitation

In the postoperative period, all patients were immobilized with a kneepad at 30° flexion for four weeks, after which they followed a rehabilitation protocol. Physical therapy was initiated at one week postoperatively to begin knee range of motion (ROM) in the hinged knee brace. Knee ROM began at 0° to 30° and advanced to 0° to 90° by six weeks postoperatively. At six weeks postoperatively, the crutches and knee brace were discontinued. At four months after surgery, patients were allowed to run and sporting activity was allowed at six months if the patients demonstrated clinical stability.

2.4. Clinical Assessment

Clinical evaluation was assessed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperative, as well as every six months up to two years. The parameters evaluated were: Knee Society Score (KSS), range of motion, pain visual analog scale (VAS), muscle strength with Medical Research Council (MRC) scale, difference of tropism between the two limbs and, finally, the number of relapses after surgery.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

Qualitative data were expressed as absolute frequencies and relative percentages while quantitative data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and range. After the normality of VAS and MRC was tested by the Kolgomorov-Smirnov test, Friedman’s test was used to compare VAS and MRC scores between the different times of follow-up, and Wilcoxon singed-rank test was used for post hoc analyses.

3. Results

Average follow-up was 26.1 ± 10.9 months (range 12–46 months). Evaluation at two years after surgery identified an average KSS score of 94.3 ± 7.4 (range 78–100). An excellent result was obtained in six patients (85.7%) and a good result was obtained in one patient (14.3%) (

Table 1. Results of study.

Patients	7
Males	2 (28.6%)
Females	5 (71.4%)
Mean Age at the Time of Surgery (Years)	14.9 ± 1.1 (range 13–16)
Average Follow-Up (Months)	26.1 ± 10.9 (range 12–46)
Mean Knee Society Score	94.3 ± 7.4 (range 78–100)
Mean Preoperative Visual Analog Scale	4.9 ± 1.3 (range 3 to 7)
Mean Final Follow-Up VAS Scale	0.3 ± 0.5 (range 0 to 1)
Recurrences (Patients)	1 (14.3%)

).

The mean range of motion was from 0 ± 4 to 145 ± 2. The mean VAS scale reduced from 4.9 ± 1.3 (range 3 to 7) preoperatively to 0.3 ± 0.5 (range 0 to 1) at follow-up (p < 0.05) (

Table 2. Variation of Visual Analog scale at follow-up.

Patients	Preoperative	At 3 Months	At 1 Year	At 2 Years
Patient 1	3	1	1	0
Patient 2	4	0	0	0
Patient 3	5	3	1	0
Patient 4	4	1	3	0
Patient 5	5	0	2	0
Patient 6	6	2	1	1
Patient 7	7	0	2	1
Mean	4.9 ± 1.3	1.0 ± 1.2	1.4 ± 1.0	0.3 ± 0.5

).

The mean MRC scale improved from 3.1 ± 0.7 (range 2 to 4) preoperatively to 4.9 ± 0.4 (range 4 to 5) at follow-up (p < 0.05) (

Table 3. Variation of Medical Research Council scale at follow-up.

Patients	Preoperative	At 3 Months	At 1 Year	At 2 Years
Patient 1	2	3	5	5
Patient 2	3	4	5	5
Patient 3	3	4	5	5
Patient 4	3	4	5	5
Patient 5	3	4	5	5
Patient 6	4	5	5	5
Patient 7	4	5	5	5
Mean	3.1 ± 0.7	4.1 ± 0.7	4.6 ± 0.5	4.9 ± 0.4

).

A significant difference in tropism between the two limbs was noted only in one patient (14.3%), who had a recurrence four months after surgery.

4. Discussion

Patellar instability is characterized by lateral dislocation or subluxation of the patella relative to the femoral trochlea [14,15]. It often occurs in young patients during sporting activities, such as basketball, soccer, and football [4], with associated predisposing factors, these being joint hyperlaxity, lower limb malalignment, external tibial torsion and increased Q-angles [1,16]. The traumatic mechanism consists of an internal rotation of the leg relative to a fixed foot, often including simultaneous quadriceps contraction, and more rarely consists of a direct trauma to the medial patellar surface [17]. The anatomical structure involved in this type of injury is represented by MPFL, a fascial band extending from the medial border of the patella to a site near the medial femoral epicondyle [18].

Non-operative treatment represents the gold standard in children and adolescents [9,10], consisting of initial support with a knee immobilizer or brace locked in extension to allow ambulation and early initiation of physical therapy [15,19].

Surgical treatment is indicated in cases of recurrent patellar dislocations or in primary patellar dislocations associated with large (>5 mm) displaced osteochondral fractures or chondral shear fragments, and/or complete avulsion of the vastus medialis oblique from the patellar insertion site [10,20,21,22].

There are a lot of bone realignment procedures, finalized to address patellar instability, but they could not be readily used in children and adolescents with open physes because of the likelihood of a growth arrest and consequent axial deformity. Therefore, the younger the child, the greater the risk of patellar instability, with redislocation rates ranging from 7.14% to 71% after the primary dislocation [23,24]. Consequently, the tendency of the surgeon is to perform soft tissue-based procedures, respecting the physeal and apophyseal integrity [13]. However, adolescent patients with closed growth plates can safely undergo bone realignment procedures [25]. In the past, several soft tissue procedures, such as the Galeazzi semitendinosus tenodesis [26], the Roux-Goldthwait [27] procedure, and the “3-in-1” [28] procedure, were used in children with a high rate of failure and persistence of clinical manifestation [16,29].

The surgical procedure used in all patients of our series was MPFL reconstruction. Although it has been used successfully in adults [30,31], it could be indicated for use in adolescents, because it works toward preserving the original MPFL anatomy [13,32]. The procedure consists of the attachment of a semitendinosus tendon autograft near the proximal medial collateral ligament attachment on the femur, as a proxy for the femoral MPFL insertion site [33]. The reconstruction of the MPFL medial patellofemoral ligament allows for the restoration of normal length and stiffness of the medial soft tissue. Success rates of procedures which restore the medial restraints using different types of grafts and techniques range between 80 and 90% [34,35]. In our series, we reported a mean success rate of 85.7%, similar to the data provided in the literature.

Optimal use of the technique requires a proper attachment site of the MPFL, as incorrect positioning can result in post-surgical complications in both skeletally mature and immature patients [36,37]. Moreover, a study of Shah et al. [38] reported on the high rate of complication associated with MPFL reconstruction, including patellar fracture, postoperative instability, flexion loss, and pain.

In our series, we reported a failure in one in seven cases (14.3%), because of a postoperative instability with consequent recurrence four months after surgery, which was dealt with by conservative treatment, based on physical therapy and a stabilizer brace.

5. Conclusions

In conclusion, this study shows that surgical treatment of patellar instability with reconstruction of the MPFL leads to satisfying results at mid-term follow-up. Respect for indications during the treatment of patellar instability and adequate physiotherapy, regardless of the type of graft used, are crucial. Longer follow-up is needed, because it is important to avoid failure of technique, which could cause recurrent patellar instability and osteoarthritis.