Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Double Avulsion in a Collegiate American Football Athlete: A Case Report
An 18-year-old male collegiate American football player with no previous medical history of knee injury suffered an acute left patellofemoral dislocation during preseason practice. Diagnostic imaging and exploratory surgery revealed multiple avulsions of the medial patellofemoral ligament as well as significant lateral patellar tilt and chondromalacia of the left patella. A surgical repair of the ligament was performed as well as a lateral release and debridement of multiple structures. With no rehabilitative protocols available for multiple avulsion repair, a protocol for a single avulsion repair of the medial patellofemoral ligament was used with some exceptions. The patient returned to full-contact American football activities at 5 months postoperation with no reported complications. These findings indicate that a rehabilitation protocol for single avulsion repair may be appropriate for multiple avulsions as well.