ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT DEFICIENCY ACCOMPANIED BY PATELLAR SUBLUXATION TREATED BY RECONSTRUCTION WITH LATERAL RETINACULAR RELEASE

Five patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency acco mpanied by patellar subluxation who were treated by ACL reconstruction with lateral retinacular release (LRR) are reported. In two patients, the LRR was performed at the same time as the ACL reconstruction, and in three patients, the LRR was performed secondarily. The three patie nts requiring the secondary LRR needed the procedure to recover knee s tability to return to sporting activities. In all patients, the appreh ension sign of the patella was subsequently improved. When managing AC L deficiencies in a young athletic population, patellar subluxation sh ould be suspected. In our patients with patellar subluxation accompany ing an ACL deficiency, ACL reconstruction with LRR was effective in re lieving their instability.