Instability of the patellofemoral joint in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

Twenty-five (3.4%) of 732 individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome were n oted to have instability of the patellofemoral joint. We believe that this is in fact an underrepresentation of the true incidence, as we were able to identify only those patients whose symptoms were most severe. These indivi duals typically had symptoms before or during their adolescent growth spurt , had bilateral involvement, and in some instances, ceased to ambulate beca use of their patellofemoral problems. A subset of these individuals underwe nt patellar realignment surgery, with those whose treatment did not include extensive quadriceps mobilization/quadricepsplasty having a 2.7 times high er risk of requiring revision patellar surgery. Patellofemoral instability associated with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome demands early recognition and tre atment to prevent potentially catastrophic gait disturbances.