Patellofemoral Contact Pressures After Patellar Distalization: A Biomechanical Study.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To measure the patellofemoral contact pressure in early flexion after a tibial tubercle distalization osteotomy. METHODS: Ten matched-pair fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were studied. The average Blackburne-Peel ratio of the native knees was 0.91. The knees were placed on a testing rig, with a fixed femur and tibia mobile through 90° of flexion. Individual quadriceps heads and the iliotibial band were separated and loaded with 205 N in anatomic directions using a weighted pulley system. A straight tubercle distalization osteotomy of 1 cm was performed and fixed with screws, with and without a lateral release. Patellofemoral contact pressures were measured at 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° of flexion using pressure-sensitive films on the medial trochlea and lateral trochlea. Contact force, area, and pressure were measured in the following states (1) in the native knee, (2) after distalization, and (3) after distalization with lateral release. RESULTS: The average Blackburne-Peel ratio after distalization was 0.64. Tibial tubercle distalization resulted in a 6-fold increase in mean contact pressure at 0° (0.15 MPa vs 0.90 MPa, P < .001) and a 55% increase at 10° of flexion (0.70 MPa vs 1.09 MPa, P = .02). Mean contact pressure was similar from 20° to 90° of flexion (P > .1). After distalization, the total contact area was significantly higher at 0° of flexion (17.7 mm2 vs 58.4 mm2, P = .02). Lateral release after distalization did not significantly change contact pressure (P > .21). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that patella baja, as a result of excessive patellar distalization, can cause increased patellofemoral contact pressures during early flexion at 0° and 10°. No changes were seen in contact pressure from 20° to 90°. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Care should be taken to prevent excessive distalization of the patella to avoid patella baja and increased patellofemoral contact pressures during early flexion.