Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review of Outcomes by Fixation Technique.

Abstract

Background: Various medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction techniques have been developed to minimize risks to the physis in skeletally immature patients.

Purpose: To examine outcomes of MPFL reconstruction (MPFLR) based on fixation technique in skeletally immature patients.

Study design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases were searched for the literature on outcomes of MPFLR in the pediatric population, utilizing various anatomic and nonanatomic techniques. Primary outcomes were postoperative redislocation rates, return-to-sports (RTS) rates, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Moreover, outcomes involving sequela of growth plate disturbance were collected.

Results: The final analysis included 17 studies-2 using sling-based techniques, 3 using surface-based techniques, 5 using soft tissue realignments, and 7 utilizing transosseous femoral fixations. Higher rates of postoperative redislocation were found in the sling-based (14.8%) and distal soft tissue realignment using semitendinosus tenodesis (38%) techniques, while lower rates were noted with surface-based (1.3%) and transosseous (3.4%) techniques. For PROs, there were large amounts of heterogeneity among studies, but all reported postoperative improvements, with more positive PROs generally seen in anatomic reconstructions. The RTS rate was 100% for surface-based techniques, 79.4% for distal soft tissue realignments, 79.5% for soft tissue realignment techniques, and 83.2% for transosseous techniques. No negative outcomes as a sequela of growth plate disturbance were reported.

Conclusion: Nonanatomic techniques-such as sling-based and distal soft tissue realignment techniques-have higher rates of redislocation and lower RTS rates in skeletally immature patients undergoing MPFLR. Surface-based and transosseous tunnel-based techniques were shown to have lower redislocation and higher RTS rates.

Clinical relevance: This review provides insight into the most appropriate surgical management of patellar instability in patients with open growth plates.