Wp. Garth et al., FUNCTIONAL TREATMENT OF PATELLAR DISLOCATION IN AN ATHLETIC POPULATION, American journal of sports medicine, 24(6), 1996, pp. 785-791
Fifty-eight athletically active study participants with 69 knees that
had experienced patellar dislocations were available for followup afte
r being selected for a functional rehabilitation program without antec
edent immobilization. Follow-up evaluation was at a minimum of 24 mont
hs after onset of treatment and averaged 46.2 months. Good or excellen
t results occurred in 39 (66%) knees treated after an initial patellar
dislocation and in 15 (50%) knees with a chronic history of patellar
instability. Twenty-six percent of the 69 knees had experienced recurr
ent patellar instability at followup. Overall, 42 patients (73%) were
satisfied with their knees after this nonsurgical management. Anatomic
predisposition and onset of bilateral instability at an early age wer
e found to be significant factors associated with a less favorable out
come.