BLOG: Realigning rehabilitation of patellofemoral instability with novel technology
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3D printing is emerging as a transformative force spanning across multiple industries. In health care, this cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing the way we evaluate and treat our patients across many disciplines.
The field of orthopedics is leading the charge with billions of dollars in design and production of implants, prosthetics, and instruments. Rapidly expanding, this state-of-the-art technology is personalizing patient-specific surgical planning tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy, improving clinical decision-making and care. Recent novel applications of 3D printing are changing the way we rehabilitate patients with patellofemoral instability.
The innovative prototype of 3D printing has enormous potential to help in conservative management of patients exhibiting an oblique entry to the trochlea from a lateralized origin, identifying patients who would benefit from targeted core neuromuscular training. Trunk and gluteal neuromuscular training may help control dynamic valgus at the knee. The faulty movement pattern of dynamic valgus, a position of excessive femoral adduction and internal rotation, is a modifiable risk factor for knee injury, and a kinetic impairment significantly evident in patients with chronic patellar instability. Biomechanical correction may reorient the patella to a more central, anatomically correct, patellofemoral alignment for improved tracking, facilitating a secure entry of the patella to trochlea. 3D imaging of the patellofemoral joint may be instrumental in the prevention and optimal treatment design of patellar instability, as well as other knee pathologies associated with dynamic valgus with great promise for improving patient outcomes.
The exciting paradigm has boundless potential to help clinicians, trainers and coaches to understand how rehabilitation protocols work for patellar instability patients, with tremendous implications for improving clinical daily practice. Treatment strategy must be individualized to the patient based on thorough evaluation of history and clinical examination with relevant diagnostic investigations to identify the root cause of patellofemoral instability. Personalized solutions guided by 3D reproductions are reshaping the landscape of orthopedic surgical and rehabilitative care.
References:
- Yu KE, et al. Arthrosc Tech. 2023;doi:10.1016/j.eats.2023.02.010.
- Cannon J, et al. J Biomech. 2021;doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110240.
- Zazulak BT. Master your core: A science-based guide to achieve peak performance and resilience to injury. TCK Publishing; 2022.
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