Medial capsule reefing in patellar instability

Results: All patients were reviewed at an intermediate follow-up of 72 months. Average Kujala score improved from 72.9 ± 15.0 to 88.4 ± 7.6 (p < 0.0001), average Larsen score from 15.0 ± 2.5 to 17.2 ± 2.2 (p < 0.002), average Lysholm from 63.8 ± 16.7 to 87.9 ± 11.7 (p < 0.0001) and average Fulkerson score from 69.5 ± 21.5 to 90.8 ± 9.8 (p < 0.0001). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were recorded. Ninety per cent of patients were very satisfied or satisfied with their functional result. Twenty-eight patients were reviewed at the final follow-up, 120 months after surgery. Average Kujala was 87.7 ± 8.8 (p < 0.0001), average Larsen was 16.8 ± 2.7 (p < 0.01), average Lysholm was 87.6 ± 14.3 (p < 0.0001), and average Fulkerson was 87.2 ± 13.9 (p < 0.0001). Almost 86 % of patients were very satisfied or satisfied with their result. However, slight deterioration of the outcomes over time was observed. Conclusion: At the final follow-up, the outcomes of all-arthroscopic technique were significantly improved from preoperative values; however, they were slightly inferior at the 72 months follow-up. This slight deterioration of the outcomes may be the consequence of the reduction in physical activities. Level of evidence: Case series, Level IV. Methods: Thirty patients with painful patellar syndrome and potential patellar instability having undergone a minimum of 6 months of intensive rehabilitation were enrolled in the present study. All subjects were evaluated with physical examination, clinical and functional outcomes and complete imaging study. Purpose: The efficacy of medial capsule reefing in the treatment of patellar instability is well documented. Aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the outcomes of an all-arthroscopic medial capsule reefing technique in young patients with painful patella syndrome and potential patellar instability. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.