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The risk of osteochondral fracture after patellar dislocation is related to patellofemoral anatomy

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Despite the comprehensive literature on the anatomical risk factors for patellar dislocation, knowledge on the risk factors for subsequent osteochondral fracture (OCF) remains limited.

Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare measures of patellofemoral anatomy in patients with OCF after patellar dislocation and propensity score matched patients without OCF. For differing measures, limit values showing a 50% probability for the occurrence of OCF were calculated using predictive logistic regression modelling. Proportions of abnormal measures in the groups were compared using Chi-square test. The association of anatomical measures with OCF location was examined by comparing subgroup mean values in the different OCF locations.

Results

Propensity score matching provided a total of 111 matched pairs of patients with OCF and patients without OCF. The patients with and without OCF differed in patellotrochlear index (PTI; 0.54 [95% CI 0.52–0.57] vs. 0.47 [95% CI 0.45–0.49]; p < 0.001), tibial tubercle-posterior cruciate ligament distance (TT-PCL; 21.6 mm [95% CI 21.0–22.3 mm] vs. 20.5 mm [95% CI 20.0–21.1 mm]; p = 0.013), trochlear depth (2.5 mm [95% CI 2.3–2.7 mm] vs. 3.0 mm [95% CI 2.8–3.2 mm]; p < 0.001) trochlear facet asymmetry ratio (0.54 [95% CI 0.51–0.57] vs. 0.43 [95% CI 0.42–0.45]; p < 0.001) and trochlear condyle asymmetry ratio (1.04 [95% CI 1.03–1.04] vs. 1.05 [95% CI 1.04–1.05]; 0.013. Thresholds for increased OCF risk were > 0.51 for PTI  > 21.1 mm for TT-PCL < 2.8 mm for trochlear depth > 0.48 for trochlear facet asymmetry ratio and < 1.04 for trochlear condyle asymmetry ratio.

Conclusion

In patients with OCF after patellar dislocation, trochlear configuration and patella vertical location were closer to normal anatomy, whereas patella lateralization was more severe when compared to patients without OCF. These anatomical factors contribute to the risk of OCF during patellar dislocation.

Level of evidence

III.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Central Finland Hospital, Keskussairaalantie 19, 40620, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Mikko Uimonen, Ville Ponkilainen, Susanna Hirvinen, Heikki Nurmi & Juha Paloneva

  2. Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

    Ville M. Mattila

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    Ville M. Mattila, Gilber Kask & Jussi P. Repo

  4. COXA Hospital for Joint Replacement, Tampere, Finland

    Ville M. Mattila

  5. University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    Juha Paloneva

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  1. Mikko Uimonen
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  2. Ville Ponkilainen
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Contributions

Coordination of tudy conduction: MU, VP, JR, VM, JP. Study design: MU, VP, JR, JP. Data collection: MU, VP, SH, GK. Statistical analysis: MU, VP. Data interpretation: MU, VP, JR, VM, HN, JP. Clinical consultant: HN. Manuscript preparation: MU, VP. Critical review of the manuscript: JR, VM, JP, HN, GK, SH. Approval of the final draft: MU, VP, JR, VM, JP, HN, GK, SH.

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Correspondence to Mikko Uimonen.

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Due to the retrospective study design with the data gathered only from electronic patient records without affecting the treatment of the patients, an ethical committee approval was not obtained or needed.

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Uimonen, M., Ponkilainen, V., Hirvinen, S. et al. The risk of osteochondral fracture after patellar dislocation is related to patellofemoral anatomy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 29, 4241–4250 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06547-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06547-2

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