Patella Stabilisation

The majority of patients don't go on to suffer chronic dislocations after an initial dislocation. Typically, physiotherapy is all that most initial dislocations require. However, a minority of patients do require Patellofemoral Stabilization for repeated dislocation.

Patients with moderate instability, usually only require : Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction.

The MPFL Reconstruction Involves transferring a hamstring tendon to the medial side of the replace the torn MPFL. 

Patients with more severe instability will require a Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in addition to a Patella Tendon-Tibial Tubercle Transfer to improve tracking, and rarely a Trochleoplasty will be needed to deepen the femoral groove to allow better patelal tracking.

These surgeies are a combination of open and arthroscopic techniques, and most patients stay one to two nights in hospital.

Risks of surgery are low, but include infection, blood clots, non union , scar numbness and screw irritation requiring later removal. The re-dislocation rate is about 3%.