Anatomical double-bundle medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction in recurrent patellar dislocation using autologous gracilis tendon graft

Background
Recurrent lateral instability of the patella after traumatic patellar dislocation always involves injury to the medial patellar soft tissue restraints. The purpose of the study was to assess the results of double-bundle medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction in the management of recurrent lateral patellar dislocations.
Patients and methods
Between January 2012 and November 2014, MPFL reconstruction was performed in 25 knees in 19 patients (12 females and seven males) at Benha University Hospital. The inclusion criteria included patients with recurrent dislocations of the patella (more than two times) with deficient medial retinacula. Autogenous gracilis graft was used as double bundle. Graft was fixed at the femoral side using interference screws and at the patellar side using incomplete tunnels and bone groove in the medial half of the patella.
Results
Average follow-up period was 32.16±5.8 months. At the final follow-up, average postoperative Lysholm score improved significantly from 58.88±5.87 to 90.68±2.77 (<0.00001), and average postoperative Kujala score improved significantly from 65.24±3.12 to 90.08±5.47 (<0.0001). No complications were recorded, as well as no reported postoperative dislocations.
Conclusion
Anatomical double-bundle MPFL reconstruction is a simple and cheap technique used in the current case series that provides accurate femoral and patellar anatomical insertion points at the insertion sites and allows proper tensioning of the graft maintaining normal patellar glide, with overall favorable outcome results.