Abstract
Patellofemoral problems are probably the most common type of knee complaint in adolescents and adults. Our aim is to evaluate the mid- and long-term functional outcome, as well as to detect factors affecting it in patients who underwent a modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure.
Forty-two patients (49 procedures) were included in this study. Nine were male and the 33 female, with a mean age of 31,3 years (range: 19 to 56). The reason for operation was patellar instability (recurrent subluxation or dislocation) in 13 cases (26,5%), anterior knee pain with malalignment of the extensor mechanism in 17 cases (34,7%) and a combination of both in the remaining 19 cases (38,8%). Patients were followed for a minimum of 18 months and an average of 38,6 months (range: 18 to 130 months).
The functional outcome according to Cox’s criteria was excellent in 14 cases (28,6%), good in 20 cases (40,8%), fair in 9 cases (18,4%) and poor in the remaining 6 cases (12,2%). Patients scored an average of 3,57 (range: 2–8) in their Tegner Activity Scale, while their score in Activities of Daily Living Scale of the Knee Outcome Survey ranged from 43 to 98 (average: 75,8). Result analysis revealed that the functional outcome was better in the subgroup that had the procedure due to patellar instability. Furthermore, the outcome was significantly better in the absence of grade 3 or 4 chondral changes in the patellofemoral joint at the time of operation (t-test: p=0,0362).
Elmslie-Trillat procedure satisfactorily restores patellofemoral stability and offers a very good functional outcome, especially in the absence of significant chondral changes in the patellofemoral joint at the time of operation.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
