Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with an extensor hallucis longus allograft: a retrospective study of 45 cases.

Abstract

Reconstruction of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) has become the procedure of choice in patients with patellar instability. The type of graft used for reconstruction is controversial. The purpose of this study was to analyze and describe the clinical and radiological results achieved with a MPFL reconstruction performed using an extensor hallucis longus allograft. This work is a retrospective study of 41 patients (45 knees) who underwent MPFL reconstruction using an extensor hallucis longus allograft. The patellar apprehension test, Kujala scale, and EQ-5D European quality of life scale were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 24 months. Complications, recurrence rate, time to return to sports, and satisfaction with the procedure were also assessed. Statistically significant differences were observed between pre- and postoperative variables on the Kujala scale (p < .001) and the EQ-5D (p < .001). The isolated MPFL presented an increase on the Kujala scale of 41.9 ± 13.4, in contrast to the reconstruction with tibial tubercle osteotomy with an increase of 29.4 ± 16.6 (p = 0.031). MPFL reconstruction with an extensor hallucis longus allograft is a suitable alternative in patients with patellofemoral instability because it offers clinically and radiologically satisfactory results. MPFL reconstruction combined with a tibial tubercle osteotomy can offer inferior functional outcomes to the isolated reconstruction.