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Lateral Patellar Retinacular Release Results in Satisfactory Knee Health and Function in Adolescents

When a patient presents with patellofemoral (a joint in the knee) pain , there are many options for management. However, no option has ever been deemed more effective than another.

Although conservative treatment, physical therapy and quadriceps training, should be tried first, for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment, surgery may be necessary. The authors of this study sought to determine the failure rate of a procedure called lateral patellar retinacular release, outcomes, and if differences occurred depending on the patient's demographics.

The researchers found the records of patients who had undergone this surgery, done by one particular surgeon. After attempting to contact the patients, the researchers had a group of 140 knees for evaluation. The study subjects completed a telephone interview, as well as a general satisfaction survey. The researchers evaluated knee function with the Cincinnati Knee Rating System and the Lysholm Knee Questionnaire. The researchers also looked for surgery failure, which was determined by the need for surgery for any of the original indications.

All patients underwent the same rehabilitation process: six weeks of physical therapy. The study findings showed that after 8.5 years on average, 25 knees out of 140 needed repeat surgery. The median score, using the Cincinnati Knee Rating System (for pain) of zero to 10, rose to eight for the 140 knees, and the mean Lysholm score, was 76 (out of 100). Both numbers indicate that patients were satisfied with the outcome. The researchers did not find any correlation with success and satisfaction among different age groups, sex, sports function, or Lysholm scores.

In conclusion, the authors report that the majority of patients who underwent the lateral patellar retinacular release were satisified with the outcome.

References: Peter G. Gerbino, MD, et al. Long-Term Functional Outcome After Lateral Patellar Retinacular Release in Adolescents. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. January/February 2008. Vol. 28. No. 1. Pp. 118-123.

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