EFFECT OF A PATELLAR REALIGNMENT BRACE ON PATELLOFEMORAL RELATIONSHIPS - EVALUATION WITH KINEMATIC MR-IMAGING

The effect of a newly developed patellar realignment brace was evaluat ed in 21 patellofemoral joints (19 patients) with patellar subluxation (13 joints with lateral subluxation and eight with medial subluxation ) by using active-movement, loaded kinematic magnetic resonance (MR) i maging. Sixteen patellofemoral joints (76%) demonstrated a qualitative correction of or improvement in patellar subluxation (ie, centralizat ion of the patella or a decrease in the displacement of the patella) a fter application of the brace. Four of the five ''failures'' occurred in patellofemoral joints that had patella alta and/or dysplastic bone anatomy. These results indicate that the patellar realignment brace wa s able to counteract patellar subluxation in the majority of patellofe moral joints studied, as shown by active-movement, loaded kinematic MR imaging. This brace appears to be useful for conservative treatment o f patients with patellofemoral joint pain secondary to patellar malali gnment and maltracking.