Outcomes of surgical treatment of patellar instability in children with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND: patellar instability is a relatively frequent musculoskeletal disorder in children with Down syndrome (DS). However, such a condition has seldom been studied in the literature, even less its surgical treatment. Different techniques have been offered for this condition; the evidence for surgical options is scarce and primarily based on case reports or case series with few patients and heterogeneous techniques. Given this background, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of a uniform kind of surgical procedure for such a condition that combined lateral soft tissue release, medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction (using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon autograft), the Roux-Goldthwait procedure, and V-Y quadricepsplasty (if needed). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved 11 skeletally immature patients (12 knees; 9 males and 2 females), 5.5 to 14.1 years of age, with DS who had patellofemoral instability (PFI) and were managed by this technique between October 2018 and March 2020. Preoperative radiography, CT scan, and MRI were performed to evaluate the physis status, lower limb alignment, patellar height, trochlear morphology, and any associated knee pathology. A functional knee assessment was done by using the Kujala score and the modified Lysholm score. RESULTS: The mean time of follow-up (± SD) was 47.7 ± 5.8 months (range: 39-56). Pre-operatively, the Kujala score (± SD) was 52.6 ± 14.3 (range: (31-74), and at final follow-up, it was 92.2 ± 4.4 (range: (88-98), showing a significant improvement (P < 0.001). The preoperative modified Lysholm score (± SD) was 54.3 ± 8.1 (range: 39-62), and at final follow-up it was 92.4 ± 5.3 (range: 82-96), showing a significant improvement (P < 0.001). All patients had a stable patella without a recurrence of instability and regained full ROM. There was no incidence of a patellar fracture or femoral physis injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed technique of combined soft tissue procedures, including lateral soft tissue release, MPFL reconstruction (using a partial-thickness quadriceps tendon autograft), the Roux-Goldthwait procedure, and V-Y quadricepsplasty, was an effective method for treating patellar instability in children with DS while avoiding physeal injury and patellar fracture. Functional scores and radiological outcomes were improved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective case series.

Combined Anatomic Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate and Anterolateral Ligaments Using Hamstring Graft Through a Single Femoral Tunnel and With a Single Femoral Fixation.

Patients with complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury have different degrees of rotational (internal rotation) laxity. A residual pivot shift has been found to be positive in more than 15% of cases after an accurate ACL reconstruction. Improved understanding of the existence, function, and biomechanical role of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) in controlling rotational instability of the knee has redirected and refocused attention on a supplemental extra-articular reconstruction of the ALL in conjunction with the intra-articular ACL reconstruction so as to restore normal kinematics of the knee. This Technical Note describes a technique that allows for a combined ACL and ALL reconstruction using autogenous hamstring graft (semitendinosus and gracilis tendons). One femoral tunnel is used connecting the anatomic femoral attachment of the ALL on the lateral wall of the lateral femoral condyle to the anatomic femoral ACL footprint on the medial wall of the lateral femoral condyle. The remaining part of the graft is fixed to the proximal tibia midway between Gordy's tubercle and the head of the fibula. This Technical Note describes a technique of both ACL and ALL reconstruction with a continuous hamstring graft.