Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy With and Without Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in Adolescent Patients Leads to Decrease in Patellar Height and Patella Tendon Length.

Objective: Patellar height changes after tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) have not yet been described. We aimed to evaluate whether TTO ± medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFL-R) influences patellar height and tendon length, hypothesizing that TTO would decrease patellar height and tendon length.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of skeletally mature adolescents (<18 y) receiving primary anteromedialization or medialization TTO ± MPFL-R. Patients with at least 6 months of radiographic follow-up were included in the study. Pre and postoperative patellar heights were assessed on lateral, weight-bearing, and flexion (30 to 70 degrees) radiographs using the Blackburne-Peel Index (BPI), Caton-Deschamps Index (CDI), and Insall-Salvati Ratio (ISR). Subgroup analyses were performed to compare patellar height changes in patients with preoperative patella alta, norma, and baja, as well as between patients undergoing medialization and anteromedialization TTO. Data were analyzed for normality using a Shapiro-Wilk test, and paired-sample t tests were performed.

Results: Forty-nine knees were included (mean age: 15 y; range: 12 to 17). A significant decrease in mean patellar height after TTO ± MPFL-R was observed across all measures: BPI (0.12, P = 0.000783), CDI (0.08, P = 0.01062), and ISR (0.15, P = 0.00000075). Patellar tendon length decreased by 2.26 mm ( P = 0.001272). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a decrease in mean patellar height across all 3 measurements ( P < 0.001; BPI, CDI, and ISR) for patients with preoperative patella alta but not patella norma or baja. Additional subgroup analysis showed a patellar height decrease using BPI (0.15, P = 0.004583) and ISR (0.14, P = 0.0002806) for patients receiving medialization TTO but not anteromedialization. The anteromedialization cohort did not demonstrate patellar height change using BPI and CDI; ISR demonstrated a decrease (0.10, P = 0.00917).

Conclusions: Mean patellar height and tendon length decreases after TTO ± MPFL-R in skeletally mature, adolescent patients. Subgroup analyses suggest these changes occur in patients with preoperative patella alta and/or patients who undergo medialization TTO. These data suggest that some distalization in patellar positioning may be achieved without formal distalization osteotomy.