Computational comparison of medializing tibial tubercle osteotomy and trochleoplasty in patients with trochlear dysplasia.

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) has emerged as the procedure of choice for recurrent patellar dislocation. This addresses soft tissue injury but does not address underlying anatomic factors, including trochlear dysplasia, that are commonly present and increase risk of dislocation. Quantification of the stability offered by other surgical interventions, namely, medializing tibial tubercle osteotomy (mTTO) and trochleoplasty, with and without MPFLR, may provide insight for surgical choices in patients with trochlear dysplasia. We developed subject-specific finite element models based on magnetic resonance scans from a cohort of 20 patients with trochlear dysplasia and recurrent patellar dislocation. The objectives of this study were (1) to compare patella stability after mTTO and trochleoplasty procedures; (2) to evaluate whether it is necessary to perform a MPFLR in combination with the mTTO or trocheoplasty procedure; and (3) to quantify the robustness of patellar stability to variability in knee kinematics. Trochleoplasty performed better than mTTO at stabilizing the patella between 5° and 30° flexion. For both mTTO and trochleoplasty procedures, it was beneficial to also perform MPFLR - inclusion of MPFLR halved the magnitude of patellar laxity predicted in the simulations. Simulations that did not include any MPFL restraint were also more sensitive to variation in tibiofemoral internal-external kinematics. Clinical Significance: This study highlights differences in stability provided by mTTO and trochleoplasty procedures. It also highlights the importance of MPFLR in helping to stabilize the joint, regardless of other procedures that may also be performed, and the sensitivity of patellar stability outcomes to tibiofemoral kinematics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.