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Lateral retinaculum plasty instead of lateral retinacular release with concomitant medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction can achieve better results for patellar dislocation

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To elucidate the outcomes of lateral retinaculum plasty versus lateral retinacular release with concomitant medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction.

Methods

In a prospective study, 59 patients treated at our institution from 2012 to 2014 were included. The 59 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I included 27 patients who underwent lateral retinacular release and MPFL reconstruction. Group II included 32 patients who underwent lateral retinaculum plasty and MPFL reconstruction. All patients were followed up for at least 2 years and all assessments were performed both pre- and post-operation. Clinical evaluation consisted of the Kujala score, patellar medial glide test, and patellar tilt angle, patellar lateral shift, and congruence angle, measured on CT scan.

Results

Significant improvement was seen after surgery in both groups. The group of lateral retinaculum plasty achieved better results than the group of lateral retinacular release. No statistically significant differences were found in lateral patellar shift (ns) or congruence angle (ns) between the groups. There were significant differences in Kujala score (P < 0.05) patellar tilt angle (P < 0.05), and patellar medial glide test (P < 0.05) between the groups.

Conclusions

MPFL reconstruction with lateral retinaculum plasty yielded better results than MPFL with lateral retinacular release. Postoperatively, medial and lateral function were restored, and patellar tracking was normal. Lateral retinaculum plasty is a new method that reduces the complications of lateral retinacular release for patellar dislocation.

Level of evidence

II.

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Abbreviations

LRR:

Lateral retinacular release

LRP:

Lateral retinaculum plasty

MPFL:

Medial patellofemoral ligament

MPG:

Medial patellar glide test

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hebei Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, 139 Ziqiang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei, China

    Chang Liu, Guman Duan, Yingzhen Niu, Pengkai Cao, Kunpeng Fu, Jinghui Niu & Fei Wang

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  1. Chang Liu
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  2. Guman Duan
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  3. Yingzhen Niu
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  4. Pengkai Cao
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  6. Jinghui Niu
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  7. Fei Wang
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Correspondence to Fei Wang.

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We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

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Liu, C., Duan, G., Niu, Y. et al. Lateral retinaculum plasty instead of lateral retinacular release with concomitant medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction can achieve better results for patellar dislocation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 26, 2899–2905 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-017-4798-x

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