BLOG: One perspective on trochleoplasty

Issue: July 2016

In the Patellofemoral Update in this issue of Orthopaedics Today Europe, John P. Fulkerson, MD, discusses when and why to use trochleoplasty in patients.

Perspective from Reha N. Tandogan, MD

Reha N. Tandogan, MD, of Cankaya Orthopedics in Ankara, Turkey, gives 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

Reha N. Tandogan, MD

Trochlear dysplasia is one of the main risk factors for primary patellar dislocation. It also has been increasingly recognized as a risk factor for failure of instability surgery. As Dr. Fulkerson points out, patients with severe dysplasia may benefit from trochleoplasty. Although excellent outcomes for stability have been reported after trochleoplasty, high rates of radiological osteoarthritis at long-term follow-up are worrisome. The ideal age of the patient and the amount of acceptable cartilage damage is still not clear. The utilization of trochleoplasty as a first line treatment is still controversial, and most surgeons would consider using it for revision cases.

Reha N. Tandogan, MD

Senior Surgeon

Cankaya Orthopedics, Ankara, Turkey

Board Member, European Knee Associates

Board Member, Turkish Society of Sports Traumatology

Disclosures: Tandogan reports no relevant financial disclosures.