COMPLICATIONS
Patellar dislocation occurs when the patella or kneecap slips out of its groove on the front of the lower end of the femur (thigh bone). A subluxation is a partial dislocation in which the patella slips but immediately goes back into place. In a true patellar dislocation, the patella goes back into place as a distinct movement, usually when the knee is straightened. This may occur seconds to hours after the dislocation. The term knee dislocation is often used for a patellar dislocation but this is incorrect. A knee dislocation is a major injury and involves the tearing of the main ligaments around the knee.
When a patella dislocates the chance of another dislocation is immediately quite high, somewhere between 15% and 45%. The specific risk for an individual is difficult to calculate, but it is greater if there are associated predisposing factors. Predisposing factors include such things as the alignment of the leg, the shape of the groove in the femur for the patella, how high the patella sits in relation to the rest of the knee joint, and the alignment of the foot and ankle.
When the patella dislocates on more than one occasion the term recurrent patellar dislocation is used. After two dislocations, the risk of further episodes of dislocation is very high, somewhere in the order of 60% to 80%
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT
If your patella has dislocated only once or maybe twice, and you do not have any or relatively minor predisposing factors, non-surgical treatment may be recommended. The emphasis of nonsurgical treatment is to build up the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh and in particular the vastus medialis (VMO) muscle which is the part of the quadriceps muscle just above the inside of the knee. Attempts may also be made to stretch the structures on the outside of the knee. These include the iliotibial band (ITB) and the lateral retinaculum. In addition, orthotics may be used to improve the alignment of the foot and ankle.
DIFFERENT SURGICAL OPTIONS
If it has been decided that surgery is the appropriate way to manage your condition there are many different options that have been described and that can be used. The particular operation that is selected for you will depend on the alignment of your knee and patella as well as your age. Special X-rays and a CT or MRI scan may be used to measure the alignment more accurately. An MRI scan may also provide information about the state of the surfaces of the patella part of a joint.
Whatever realignment procedure is suggested, it will probably have an arthroscopy as part of it. The role of the arthroscopy is to clean up any damage on the bone surfaces and to remove any loose fragments that may be within the joint.
When the patella dislocates the first time there is a ligament on the medial, or inside, aspect of the patella that is almost always torn. The ligament is called the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). The ligament can be reconstructed by using a piece of hamstring tendon and passing it through drill holes made in the patella and femur. This involves making two or three short incisions over the inside part of the knee and upper shin. The tendon is fixed in the tunnels with screws or some other type of anchor.
If the patella is sitting too high it can be moved downwards and into its groove on the femur by moving part of the tibia called the tibial tuberosity. This is the bony lump on the front of the upper end of the shin. The patella is attached to the tibial tuberosity by the patellar tendon. By moving the tuberosity downwards the patella is also moved downwards. Screws are used to hold the tuberosity in its new position until it heals. These usually need to be removed at a later date because they are prominent and can be uncomfortable when kneeling.
Sometimes the tibial tuberosity needs to be moved medially, or towards the inside of the shin in order to improve the tracking of the patella in its groove on the femur. This medial shift may also be combined with a downward, or distal, shift. Again, the tuberosity is held in place with screws until it heals.
Another option, which is used less commonly, is to deepen the groove for the patella on the lower end of the femur. This operation is called a Trochleoplasty. It involves removing some bone and deepening the surface of the groove and holding it in place with nails or stitches, both of which are reabsorbed by the body with time.
RECOVERY
Whatever operation is used to treat your knee, it will usually involve at least one night the in hospital. The length of stay will depend on the complexity of your surgery as well as the response of your knee to surgery. However, most people can be discharged on the first or second day after surgery.
When you go home you will be putting weight through your leg on an as tolerated basis and using crutches for support. With some operations, usually those involving shifting the tibial tuberosity downwards, you may be required to wear some kind of brace or splint for the first few weeks after surgery. However, during this period you will be able to take the knee out of the brace to get it moving.
Most people are walking without support by four weeks. The focus of the early rehabilitation is to reduce the swelling, restore the function of your quadriceps muscle, and to get the knee bending and straightening normally.
If the tibial tuberosity has been moved then it is important to make sure the bone is healed before more aggressive rehabilitation is commenced. The same applies to a Trochleoplasty. Healing can be monitored with X-rays.
Once the swelling has reduced and any bone healing has taken place, progression is essentially on an as tolerated basis. It usually takes up to 3 months before one can recommence running. From here it is really a matter of function and comfort before one can resume sporting activities. Depending on the procedure that has been performed, it will take 4 to 6 months to be able to resume sport on a competitive basis.
COMPLICATIONS
All surgery is associated with some risk of complications. There are general complications and there are specific complications.
INFECTION
Antibiotics are given at the time of surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Despite this, infection of the wound can occur. This is usually easily treated with antibiotics. However, sometimes the infection gets into the joint, which is a serious complication and requires re-admission to hospital, additional surgery and intravenous antibiotics.
THROMBOSIS
A thrombosis is a blood clot that may form in the veins in the legs. This can cause persistent swelling of the foot and ankle and can also be dislodged and be carried to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), resulting in chest pain and breathing difficulties. Once again, the risk is low. An injection may be given at the time of surgery as well as following the operation to further reduce the risk.
DELAYED BONE HEALING
If a shift of the tibial tuberosity or a Trochleoplasty has been performed there is a risk that the bone will be slow to heal or may not heal at all. In either case, additional surgery may be required to encourage bone healing. The end result is usually satisfactory.
ONGOING KNEE PAIN
If the medial patellofemoral ligament has been reconstructed there may be some pain on the inside of the knee with deep flexion. It is usually a matter of working through this. It is not usually a long-term problem.
If the hamstring tendon has been harvested to reconstruct the ligament there may be some pain at the back of the knee or thigh some 3-12 weeks after surgery. This may be associated with some bruising but does settle and is not usually a cause of any long-term problems.
It is important to restore the quadriceps function as early as possible. Delayed recovery of quadriceps function may be associated with some shortening of the patellar tendon. This may pull the patella lower than ideal and may be associated with some pain in front of the knee.
Whenever there has been recurrent patellar dislocation or a patellar stabilisation has been performed there can be discomfort with kneeling. This is often accentuated after surgery but may be helped by removing screws that have been used to hold the tibial tuberosity in place while it heals. The cuts used for surgery may result in some numbness or altered sensation on the front of the knee and shin. This usually improves with time.
It is common for there to have been some damage to the surface of the patella or femur prior to surgery. This is essentially early osteoarthritis and there may be some ongoing discomfort at the front of the knee.
FURTHER PATELLAR DISLOCATION
Whatever surgery has been performed, there is always a risk of further episodes of patellar dislocation. The risk of a further dislocation is usually less than 10% but the nature of the condition means that we cannot reduce it to 0%.