Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament with nonresorbable suture tape normalizes patellar maltracking independent of patella-side fixation technique.

Purpose: Patellar maltracking caused by a rupture of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) can be improved by MPFL reconstruction (MPFL-R) with a tendon graft. Nonresorbable suture tape (FiberTape, FT) is possibly becoming an option to tendon grafts for MPFL-R. Patella-side fixation of FT can be performed with suture anchors or via soft-tissue fixation. The aim of this study was to investigate patellar tracking considering soft-tissue-based and anchor-based patella-side fixation techniques.

Methods: In eight fresh-frozen human knee joint specimens (m/f 4/4; age 75 ± 10 years), the MPFL was identified, and a rupture was placed near the femoral insertion site. In the study group (SG; 4 knees), soft-tissue fixation of the FT was performed at the medial patellar retinaculum; in the control group (CG; 4 knees), FT was fixed at the patella via suture anchors. For native MPFL (nMPFL), ruptured ("injured") MPFL (iMPFL) and reconstructed MPFL (FT-MPFL-SG, respectively, FT-MPFL-CG) cone beam CT scans were performed in 15°, 30°, and 45° of knee joint flexion. Patellar tracking was assessed using the radiological parameters patellar tilt (PT), congruence angle (CA) and posterior patellar edge-trochlear groove ratio (PTR).

Results: All recorded radiological parameters increased, respectively, decreased in the CG and SG from the nMPFL to the iMPFL state. After MPFL-R, all parameters normalized when compared to the intact state (nMPFL), regardless of patella-side fixation technique. All investigated parameters of patellotrochlear alignment were positively, respectively, negatively significantly (p < 0.05) correlated throughout all evaluated conditions (nMPFL, iMPFL, FT-MPFL-SG, FT-MPFL-CG).

Conclusion: MPFL-R with a nonresorbable suture tape can normalize patellar maltracking in fresh-frozen human knee joint specimens in earlier degrees of knee joint flexion independent of patella-side fixation technique. The investigated parameters of patellotrochlear alignment correlate with each other.