OUTCOME AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF ARTHROSCOPICALLY GRADED PATELLAR CHONDROMALACIA WITH OR WITHOUT LATERAL RELEASE

In a follow-up study of 67 patients with an arthroscopically diagnosed patellar chondromalacia, we compared the results of plain conservativ e treatment with those after an open lateral retinacular release. The mean followup was 35 months. In Grade I chondromalacia the lateral rel ease did not affect the result, which was in all cases good or excelle nt. In Grade II to IV chondromalacia the lateral release appeared bene ficial, although the difference did not reach statistical significance . We also examined the validity of three clinical signs in arthroscopi cally verified patellar chondromalacia. Patellar inhibition and tracki ng tests were clearly mole sensitive than the lateral apprehension tes t, which often gave a false negative result. If the patellar inhibitio n test is positive and a Grade II to IV chondromalacia of the patella is found at arthroscopy, lateral release should be considered among ot her procedures, like patellar shaving or patellar resurfacing.