scholarly journals Patellar Tendon Imbrication

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 263502542110066
Author(s):  
Sercan Yalcin ◽  
Ronak M. Patel ◽  
Jack Andrish ◽  
Lutul D. Farrow

Background: Patella alta is a common cause of patellar instability. Patellar tendon imbrication is a successful surgery addressing the deformity by shortening the patellar tendon without necessitating an osteotomy. Indications: Symptomatic patella alta causing patellar instability in both skeletally immature and adult patients. Technique Description: The patellar tendon is exposed, and levels of imbrication as determined preoperatively by radiographic measurements are outlined on the tendon with a marking pen. A third line is then made proximal to the level of dissection that is half the distance of the lengthening. From the distal marking, a flap of tendon, the anterior half, is elevated by sharp dissection using a fresh No. 15 blade proximal to the predetermined level. Next, “redundancy-reducing” 2-0 vicryl sutures are placed and left untied by entering at the proximal marking, passing deep to the tendon, and emerging at the middle of the intact posterior section of tendon, followed by placement of 3 structural #2 Ethibond/Ti-Cron horizontal sutures into the patellar tendon that will create and maintain the imbrication. These sutures are then tied proximally while applying downward pressure to the patella to avoid tying under tension. Next, the “redundancy-reducing” sutures are tied thus imbricating the redundant posterior section of tendon. In a “pants over vest” fashion, the distal end of the anterior section of isolated tendon is repaired with ‘‘0’’ absorbable suture. The knee is then flexed beyond 90° to assess competence of the suture lines and to assess the need for quadriceps lengthening. Results: Radiographic shortening is maintained at a minimum of 2 years on 27 patients/32 knees. There were no complications directly related to the technique. Discussion/Conclusion: Patellar tendon imbrication is a safe and effective procedure to correct patella alta in the setting of lateral patellar instability. On average, the technique allowed 1 cm of patellar tendon shortening and maintained the correction at a minimum 2-year follow-up. In the skeletally immature patient, this technique allows correction of patella alta by avoidance of a tibial tuberosity osteotomy.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 232596711881603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Dan ◽  
James McMahon ◽  
William C.H. Parr ◽  
David Broe ◽  
Phil Lucas ◽  
...  

Background: Patellar tendinopathy is an overuse condition often affecting athletes. It has been postulated that patellar tendinopathy is associated with patella alta; however, this and any other anatomic risk factors have not been identified. Purpose: To explore whether lever arm differences from radiographic measurements exist between patients with and without tendinopathy. This may provide surgeons with a simple radiographic means to identify patients at risk. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the knee from a sports imaging facility were screened and reviewed to identify 2 groups of patients: those with and those without imaging signs of patellar tendinopathy. The lateral radiographs were reviewed and measurements made to determine (1) lever arm ratio, (2) moment arm ratio, (3) angle between the moment and line of pull of the patellar tendon, (4) patellar tendon pivot point angle, and (5) patellar height (alta). Measurements were obtained directly from radiographs. The images and measurements were reviewed by 2 experienced orthopaedic clinicians. Results: A total of 105 patients were included in this study: 52 with patellar tendinopathy and 53 without patellar tendinopathy (controls). The mean age was similar between groups (23 years); females accounted for 8 of 52 patients with patellar tendinopathy and 24 of 53 patients without. The lever arm ratio in the group with patellar tendinopathy versus controls was 1.71 versus 1.01 ( P = .01), with a moment arm difference of 1.00 versus 0.80 ( P < .01), respectively. There was no difference detected between groups for patellar tendon angle, patellar tendon pivot point angle, knee flexion angle, or incidence of patella alta. No correlation was found with our measurements and the Insall-Salvati ratio. Statistical analysis was also performed according to sex, and a statistically significant difference between groups was found for differences in lever arm ratio and moment arm. Conclusion: The lever arm ratio and moment arm ratio from lateral radiographs were significantly different between patients with and without patellar tendinopathy. Further study is needed on the biomechanical implications of the pivot point and how altering it can affect stress within the patellar tendon, patellofemoral joint, and associated clinical outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 232596712095931
Author(s):  
Ronak M. Patel ◽  
Michael Gombosh ◽  
Joshua Polster ◽  
Jack Andrish

Background: Patella alta has been noted to be a risk factor for recurrent patellar instability. Purpose: We conducted a radiographic study to determine whether a patellar tendon imbrication technique normalizes patellar height as well as whether the shortened length is maintained at a minimum 2-year follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 54 consecutive patients were identified after a retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent patellar tendon imbrication between 2008 and 2013. Preoperative, 3 weeks postoperative, and minimum 2 years postoperative lateral radiographs were analyzed using Insall-Salvati (IS), Blackburne-Peel (BP), and Caton-Deschamps (CD) indices to determine the amount of shortening that was achieved after the procedure and to what degree that shortening was maintained at a minimum 2-year follow-up. Results: A total of 27 patients (32 knees) completed a minimum 2-year follow-up. The mean patellar tendon length preoperatively was 6.1 cm (range, 5-8 cm). At 3 weeks and 2 years, the mean tendon lengths were 5.1 and 5.2 cm, respectively. Thus, the mean ± SD change in patellar tendon length from preoperative to 3 weeks postoperative was 0.97 ± 0.67 cm. IS, BP, and CD ratios had minimal change (loss of correction) from 3-week to 2-year follow-up; the delta values were 0.04, –0.03, and 0.09, respectively. There were no complications directly related to the technique. Conclusion: Patellar tendon imbrication is a safe and effective procedure to correct patella alta in the setting of lateral patellar instability. On average, the technique allowed 1 cm of patellar tendon shortening and maintained the correction at a minimum 2-year follow-up. In the skeletally immature patient, this technique allows correction of patella alta by avoidance of a tibial tuberosity osteotomy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712097366
Author(s):  
Zhen-Zhen Dai ◽  
Lin Sha ◽  
Zi-Ming Zhang ◽  
Zhen-Peng Liang ◽  
Hao Li ◽  
...  

Background: The tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance was originally described for computed tomography (CT), but it has been measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with patellar instability (PI). Whether the TT-TG measured on CT versus MRI can be considered equivalent in skeletally immature children remains unclear. Purpose: To investigate in skeletally immature patients (1) the effects of CT versus MRI imaging modality and cartilage versus bony landmarks on consistency of TT-TG measurement, (2) the difference between CT and MRI measurements of the TT-TG, and (3) the difference in TT-TG between patients with and without PI. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively identified 24 skeletally immature patients with PI and 24 patients with other knee disorders or injury but without PI. The bony and cartilaginous TT-TG distances on CT and MRI were measured by 2 researchers, and related clinical data were collected. The interrater, interperiod (bony vs cartilaginous), and intermethod (CT vs MRI) reliabilities of TT-TG measurement were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: The 48 study patients (19 boys, 29 girls) had a mean age of 11.3 years (range, 7-14 years). TT-TG measurements had excellent interrater reliability and good or excellent interperiod reliability but fair or poor intermethod reliability. TT-TG distance was greater on CT versus MRI (mean difference, 4.07 mm; 95% CI, 2.6-5.5 mm), and cartilaginous distance was greater than bony distance (mean difference, 2.3 mm; 95% CI, 0.79-3.8 mm). The TT-TG measured on CT was found to increase with the femoral width. Patients in the PI group had increased TT-TG distance compared with those in the control group, regardless of landmarks or modality used ( P > .05 for all). Conclusion: For skeletally immature patients, the TT-TG distance could be evaluated on MRI, regardless of whether cartilage or bony landmarks were used. Its value could not be interchanged with CT according to our results; however, further research on this topic is needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Otsuki ◽  
Y. Okamoto ◽  
T. Murakami ◽  
K. Nakagawa ◽  
N. Okuno ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Popkin ◽  
Ahmad F. Bayomy ◽  
Evan P. Trupia ◽  
Charles M. Chan ◽  
Lauren H. Redler

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 895-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Luceri ◽  
Julien Roger ◽  
Pietro Simone Randelli ◽  
Sébastien Lustig ◽  
Elvire Servien

Background: Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is the gold standard treatment for recurrent patellar dislocation. Patella alta has been reported in about half of patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability. Hypothesis: MPFL reconstruction (MPFLr) has a beneficial role in the correction of patellar height in patients with mild patella alta (Caton-Deschamps index [CDI] between 1.20 and 1.40). Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Skeletally mature patients, with no history of previous or concomitant knee surgical procedures, who underwent isolated MPFLr using hamstring autograft for recurrent patellar instability between 2005 and 2018, were included in this study. The authors calculated CDI, modified Insall-Salvati index (MISI), and Blackburne-Peel index (BPI) ratios. Measurements done by 2 independent observers were calculated and used to compare pre- and postoperative patellar height (patella alta: CDI >1.20). Results: A total of 89 patients (95 knees) were included in the study, with a mean age of 25.0 years (range, 15.0-45.0 years). There were 70% women and 30% men. We found patella alta in 35.8% of cases preoperatively. Among them, 79.4% had reduced patellar height indices, within normal limits, postoperatively (mean follow-up, 18.4 ± 12.0 months). All the ratios showed a significant reduction in patellar height after surgery (CDI: 0.19 [range, –0.05, 0.60]; MISI: 0.22 [–0.14, 0.76]; BPI: 0.18 [–0.08, 0.59]; P < .00001). The CDI of 79.4% of the study knees was reduced to within normal limits postoperatively. The CDI was maintained within normal limits postoperatively in 93.4% of the knees with normal patellar height and reduced to normal in 50% of the knees with severe patella alta before surgery . No patient reported patella infera before surgery, whereas this condition was found in 8.2% of study patients postoperatively. A moderate correlation was reported between preoperative radiographic indices and their reduction after surgery (CDI: P < .001, ρ = 0.39; MISI: P < .001, ρ = 0.39; BPI: P < .001, ρ = 0.48). Conclusion: The higher the preoperative patellar height, the more important is the lowering effect of MPFLr using the hamstring for patellar instability. Bony procedures should not be indicated in patients with patellar instability and a CDI between 1.20 and 1.40.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7_suppl6) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0047
Author(s):  
Simone Gruber ◽  
Rhiannon Miller ◽  
Beth Shubin Stein ◽  
Joseph Nguyen

Objectives: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is the standard of care surgical treatment for recurrent patellar instability. Recurrent patellar instability is common after a first-time dislocation in the skeletally immature population. Adult-type reconstruction techniques are often avoided in skeletally immature patients due to the proximity of the femoral insertion of the MFPL to the distal femoral physis. It is currently unclear how outcomes of MPFL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients compare to those for skeletally mature patients. The objective of this study is to present the outcomes of isolated MPFL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients and compare their findings to a skeletally mature population. Methods: Patients were identified from an institutional patellofemoral registry who underwent isolated MPFL reconstruction from March 2014 to July 2018. Demographic, radiographic, and knee-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected prior to surgery. Follow-up data collection included knee surveys collected at 1 and 2-years following MPFL reconstruction. Additionally, return to sport rates and episodes of re-dislocations were also collected. Comparisons of demographic and clinical data were made between skeletally immature and mature patients. Sub-analysis was performed on outcomes in skeletally immature patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction where the graft was placed distal to the physis to avoid the growth plate versus those who had standard placement of the graft. Baseline factors were analyzed using independent samples t-tests or chi-square analysis. Longitudinal analysis of knee PROMs was conducted using generalized estimating equation (GEE) modeling. Statistical significance was defined as p-values of 0.05 or less. Results: The study cohort included 107 patients (25 skeletally immature, 82 skeletally mature). Mean age of the study groups was 13.8 years in the immature group (range 11-15) and 21.3 in the mature group (range 14-34). No differences in sex (72% female in both groups) or obesity (0% vs. 8%) was observed between immature and mature patients. Radiographic measures of Caton-Deschamps Index (1.18 in both groups), TT-TG (14.9 vs. 14.8), and Dejour classification (P=0.328) also saw no differences between groups. Longitudinal outcomes in KOOS QoL, IKDC, KOOS PS, and Kujala surveys found no differences between immature versus mature patients over time. However, higher PediFABS was observed in the immature group versus mature at baseline (21.6 vs. 11.9, P<0.001), 1-year (18.1 vs. 11.5, P=0.006), and 2-years (22.4 vs. 11.5, P=0.003). Low incidence of post-operative dislocation and a high return to sport rate was observed in both skeletally immature and mature patients. No statistical differences were observed in all outcomes between immature patients who had standard graft placement and those where the graft was placed distal to the physis. Conclusion: Controversy exists in how best to treat the skeletally immature patient with recurrent lateral patellar instability. Due to the risk of injury to the growth plate, many believe it is best to wait to stabilize these patients until they have stopped growing. However, given the high risk of cartilage injury with each dislocation and the long term sequelae of such injuries in these young knees, the risk of waiting may be high. This study demonstrates similar outcomes and recurrence rates in skeletally immature patients with those seen in the mature population without disturbance or injury to the growth plates. [Figure: see text][Figure: see text]


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596711984071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan E. Bishop ◽  
Sheena R. Black ◽  
Joseph Nguyen ◽  
Douglas Mintz ◽  
Beth Shubin Stein

Background: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is the treatment of choice for recurrent patellar instability in the skeletally immature patient. Avoiding the open physes during anatomic MPFL reconstruction is a challenge in this population. Purpose: To describe a novel method using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the distance from the Schöttle point to the medial distal femoral physis among skeletally immature individuals with patellar instability. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Preoperative MRI scans were analyzed from 34 patients with open distal femoral physes and lateral patellar instability. With the multiplanar reconstruction mode on a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), the location of the Schöttle point was determined according to previously reported distances from the posterior femoral cortical line and the posterior origin of the medial femoral condyle. This location was then extrapolated to the most medial sagittal slice on MRI showing the medial distal femoral physis. The distance was measured from this point to the most distal aspect of the physis. Results: The mean age of the study cohort was 13.6 years (range, 10.6-15.7 years); there were 13 males and 21 females. The mean distance from the medial distal femoral physis to the Schöttle point was 7.27 ± 1.78 mm. The Schöttle point was distal to the medial distal femoral physis in all cases. There was no significant correlation between age and mean distance in either the overall study population ( r = 0.046, P = .798) or when stratified by sex (females, P = .629; males, P = .089). The distance between the Schöttle point and the medial distal femoral physis was shorter for females than for males (6.51 vs 7.71 mm, P = .043). After adjustment for age, females on average were 1.31 mm closer to the Schöttle point than were males ( B = –1.31, P = .041). Conclusion: This technique can be used to determine the distance between the medial distal femoral physis and the Schöttle point. The Schöttle point was distal to the physis in all patients, and it was closer to the physis in skeletally immature females compared with age-matched males. Clinical Relevance: The long-term repercussions of improperly placed MPFL reconstruction include recurrent patellar instability, increased patellofemoral contact pressures and overtensioning of the ligament, and possibly patellofemoral arthritis. The current technique can be used preoperatively to determine the appropriate safe distance for drilling a socket distal to the physis.


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