Surgical treatment of chondral defect of patella associated with patellar subluxation

Abstract

We present the case of a 49-year-old patient brought to the hospital with sudden onset of pain and swelling after falling down on a flexed knee while playing football. In the history review, the patient denied any patellar dislocation, previous injury, and surgical interventions. Examination revealed a grossly swollen knee anteriorly, with tenderness and moderate-to-severe effusion. Magnetic resonance images showed injury to the medial patellofemoral ligament and loose cartilage fragments, which is a rare occurrence without patellar dislocation. Surgery was done 5-day postinjury. To prevent the future complication of the injury, the patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the osteochondral fragment with 3.0-mm cannulated screw. After a year, the patient underwent the removal of screw and diagnostic arthroscopy, which portrayed that the patella cartilage had healed. The patient return to playing football 9 months after the surgery.