Classification of lesions of the medial patello-femoral ligament in patellar dislocation

• Published in: International orthopaedics Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 260 - 263
• Main Author: NOMURA, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 1999; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Joint Dislocations - classification; Joint Dislocations - pathology; Knee Injuries - classification; Knee Injuries - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Original Paper; Patellar Ligament - pathology; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Juxtaarticular disease; Human; Ligament; Luxation; Acute; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Anatomy; Trauma; Femoropatellar joint; Knee disease; Patella; Classification; Diagnosis; Lesion
• ISSN: 0341-2695; 1432-5195
• DOI: 10.1007/s002640050366

The remnants of the medial patello-femoral ligament (MPFL) of 67 knees, 18 with acute patellar dislocation and 49 with chronic patellar dislocation, were studied. The MPFL injuries of the acute cases were categorised into 2 groups: an avulsion tear type and a substantial tear type. The chronic cases were put into 3 groups: those with loose femoral attachment (9 knees), those with scar tissue formation or abnormal scar branch formation (29 knees), and those with no evidence or continuity of the ligament (absent type) (11 knees). It is concluded that incompetence of the medial patello-femoral ligament is a major factor in the occurrence of recurrent patellar dislocation and/or an unstable patella following an acute patellar dislocation.