BLOG: More data needed to better predict return to play in athletes after patella stabilization

Issue: April 2016

In the Patellofemoral Update in this issue of Orthopaedics Today Europe,Seth L. Sherman, MD, and Ryan J. Pomajzl, MD, discuss predicting athletes’ return to play after patellar stabilization.

Perspective from Christophe Hulet, MD

Christophe Hulet, MD, of Normandy University and Cain University Hospital in Cain, France, provides his comments on this topic.

Patellofemoral Update focuses on the causes, prevention and treatment of patellofemoral disorders. The blog is sponsored by the Patellofemoral Foundation whose mission is to improve the care of individuals with anterior knee pain through targeted education and research. The Patellofemoral Foundation offers additional online education resources on its website.

Members of the Patellofemoral Foundation review and add clinical perspective to recently published studies on the causes, prevention and treatment of patellofemoral disorders. The twice monthly blogs are edited by John P. Fulkerson, MD, and can be found on www.healio.com/orthopaedics. To read all the Patellofemoral Update blogs, click here.

Perspective

Christophe Hulet, MD

Drs. Sherman and Pomajzl pointed out a relevant issue concerning how to predict return to play (RTP) criteria after patella stabilization. Many studies have evaluated clinical results, but with limited evidence-based medicine for return to sports in daily life. These two doctors justified the need for key decision parameters to predict RTP. An interesting summary of RTP criteria was addressed by the criteria selected by the [International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine] ISAKOS Committee in 2013. We need to evaluate the RTP rates in our prospective evaluation more accurately from the patients perspective. While RTP criteria are promising for the future and different from clinical criteria, our most reliable and true feedback comes from the patient.

Christophe Hulet, MD

Professor, Orthopaedic Department

Normandy University and Cain University Hospital

Cain, France

Disclosures: Hulet reports no relevant financial disclosures.