POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE PATELLOFEMORAL PATIENT

Postoperative management of the patellofemoral patient requires the cl inician to implement a program which reestablishes functional activiti es of daily living. This paper will discuss the postoperative manageme nt of the patellofemoral patient. Effective rehabilitation techniques are needed to progress the patient Surgical procedures, such as a late ral retinacular release, proximal realignment, and distal realignments , are frequently utilized techniques; however, long-term clinical outc ome studies are lacking. The postoperative protocols discussed utilize an evaluation-based treatment approach model. The model defines evalu ation techniques, leading the clinician to a specific rehabilitation p athway. The crucial element of postoperative management focuses on a t reatment and exercise approach similar to the nonoperative management Inappropriate or overly aggressive exercises may lead to possible neur ologic dysfunction or delayed muscle function. The clinician must reco gnize that patients may exhibit articular cartilage damage, and, thus, rehabilitation programs must be designed to minimize the potential ri sks of progressing this lesion.