Treatment of recurrent dislocation of the patella by lateral release and medial reef

ABSTRACT

Nineteen patients [22 knees], five males and fourteen females, their age ranged from eleven to 32 years, who had the diagnosis of recurrent dislocation of the patella were treated by a procedure consisting of release of the lateral patellar retinaculum and reef of the medial retinaculum. The duration of follow-up ranged from 1« years to 15 years [average 6 years]. The results were graded according to the criteria of Crosby and Insall [1976]. Nine knees had an excellent result [41%], ten knees had good result [45.5%], the less satisfactory results were in three knees one of them was due to recurrent subluxation and the other two were due to redislocation. Patients who were in the second decade of life at the time of operation had an excellent or good result. The results were not affected by the grade of chondromalacia that was present at the time of operation. The results of this procedure are as good as those after more major surgical procedure