Primary patellar dislocations without surgical stabilization or recurrence: how well are these patients really doing?

Robert A. Magnussen, Megan Verlage, Elizabeth Stock, Lauren Zurek, David C. Flanigan, Marc Tompkins, Julie Agel, Elizabeth A. Arendt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: While a significant research has gone into identifying patients at highest risk of recurrence following primary patellar dislocation, there has been little work exploring the outcomes of patients who do not have a recurrent patellar dislocation. We hypothesize that patients without recurrent dislocation episodes will exhibit significantly higher KOOSs than those who suffer recurrent dislocations, but lower scores than published age-matched normative data. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with nonoperatively treated primary lateral patellar dislocations was carried out, and patients were contacted at a mean of 3.4 years (range 1.3–5.5 years) post-injury. Information regarding subsequent treatment and recurrent dislocations along with patient-reported outcome scores and activity level was collected. Results: One hundred and eleven patients (29.8 %) of 373 eligible patients agreed to study participation, seven of whom were excluded because they underwent subsequent patellar stabilization surgery on the index knee. Seventy-six patients (73.1 %) reported no further dislocation events, and the mean KOOS subscales at follow-up were: symptoms—80.2 ± 18.8, pain—81.8 ± 16.2, ADL—88.7 ± 15.9, sport/recreation—72.1 ± 24.4, and QOL—63.9 ± 23.8 at a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (range 1.3–5.5 years). No significant differences in any of the KOOS subscales were noted between these patients and the group that reported recurrent patellar dislocations. Only 26.4 % of the patients without further dislocations reported they were able to return to desired sport activities without limitations following their dislocation. Conclusion: Patients who do not report recurrent patellar dislocations following nonoperative treatment of primary patellar dislocations are in many cases limited by this injury 3 years following the initial dislocation event. Level of evidence: Retrospective cohort study, Level III.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2352-2356
Number of pages5
JournalKnee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Volume25
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Nonoperative
  • Patellar instability
  • Patient-reported outcomes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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