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Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) Reconstruction

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Patellofemoral Pain, Instability, and Arthritis

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Abstract

Stability of the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) is multifactorial. Risk of dislocation depends on limb alignment, interaction of the surrounding muscles, osseous architecture of the patella and the trochlea, and integrity of the medial soft tissue constraints of which the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is the main component [1, 2]. Of the many factors contributing to PFJ stability, the MPFL is the primary ligamentous restraint against lateral patellar displacement, with the MPFL reported to provide between 50% and 60% of the medial soft tissue resistance to lateral dislocation of the patella [3, 4]. Consequently, first-time patellar dislocation often results in injury to the medial retinacular ligaments, including the MPFL, leading to increased lateral patellar mobility. Competency of the MPFL is both necessary and sufficient to restore lateral patellar mobility to a normal range; consequently, surgical treatment should aim for restoration of a functional MPFL.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, San Diego, CA, USA

    Andrew P. Hurvitz & Najeeb Khan

  2. Torrey Pines Orthopaedic Medical Group, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Donald C. Fithian

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  1. Andrew P. Hurvitz
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  2. Najeeb Khan
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  3. Donald C. Fithian
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lyon-Ortho-Clinic, Lyon, France

    David Dejour

  2. Istituti Ortopedico Rizzoli Clinica, Ortopedica Traumatologica III, Bologna, Italy

    Stefano Zaffagnini

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Elizabeth A. Arendt

  4. Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Petri Sillanpää

  5. Clinic Diakonissen LinzOrthopädie & Sportchirurgie Linz, Puchenau, Austria

    Florian Dirisamer

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Hurvitz, A.P., Khan, N., Fithian, D.C. (2020). Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) Reconstruction. In: Dejour, D., Zaffagnini, S., Arendt, E., Sillanpää, P., Dirisamer, F. (eds) Patellofemoral Pain, Instability, and Arthritis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-61097-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-61097-8_18

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-61097-8

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