Lateral subluxation or dislocation of the patella is a well-recognized orthopedic disorder, but medial patellar subluxation (MPS) is poorly recognized [1] [2] . Most MPS is iatrogenic and associated with excessive lateral retinacular release procedures [3] [4] [5] [6] . However, there is limited literature describing traumatic and isolated MPS in the absence of a previous lateral release [7] [8] . We report a case of medial subluxation following minor trauma that was demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and successfully treated by direct repair of the lateral retinaculum.

This study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital, and patient provided informed consent. A 35-year-old female patient presented to our outpatient clinic complaining of aggravating lateral knee pain. She has no specific history of medical problem and surgery of patellofemoral component. She had sustained an injury after slipping and falling and had been diagnosed with hemarthrosis and knee contusion at a local clinic six months prior to presentation. She had been treated conservatively with a patella-stabilizing brace for one month and with quadriceps muscle training. Additionally, she underwent multiple joint aspirations for joint effusion, but the lateral knee pain and swelling gradually worsened.

On physical examination at the time of visit, she had a full range of motion of the right knee with painful terminal flexion, and there was tenderness to palpation at the lateral border of the patella. There was moderate joint effusion and a palpable lateral defect that corresponded to a mass-like soft tissue swelling at the lateral border of the patella. She had a positive medial patellar apprehension test in which she experienced the patella being subluxated with a medially directed force on the lateral border of the patella. The “gravity subluxation test” described by Nonwiler et al. was not used [9] .

Radiographs of her knee revealed dysplastic medial and lateral condyles and a dysplastic trochlea (Figure 1). Stress radiography was not used.

MRI of the knee was performed in order to observe the patellar retinaculum. Axial images of the MRI showed a slight medial tilt of patella, a defect in the lateral retinaculum, and moderate joint fluid. Sagittal images showed both an abnormal anterior crucial ligament (ACL) and posterior crucial ligament (PCL) with mucoid degeneration (Figure 2).

Based on these findings, arthroscopy with open lateral retinacular closure was planned. Diagnostic arthroscopy was performed using standard anteromedial and anterolateral portals. There was no meniscal pathology medially or laterally. Both the ACL and PCL were intact, but they no were longer enveloped by the synovium and showed yellowish, hypertrophic changes. The hypertrophic ACL and PCL filled the entire intercondylar notch, causing impingement. Partial excision of the ACL and PCL was performed to relieve the impingement (Figure 3). Then, patellar tracking was viewed from both the anterolateral and anteromedial portals. This demonstrated normal articular surfaces and a deficient lateral retinaculum. Lateral patellar laxity was present with the knee fully extended (Figure 4). After the arthroscopic procedure, a 3 cm skin incision was made on the thin, inflated, palpable defect area in the lateral retinaculum. The subcutaneous tissue was dissected to the level of the inflated joint capsule, and the defect was identified. The lateral retinacular defect was closed with absorbable sutures with the knee flexed at 20˚. After closure, the patency of the knee was confirmed with arthroscopy, and the portals were closed.

The knee was immobilized in a brace for weight-bearing activity for four weeks. A gradual increase to full weight-bearing activity without a brace was permitted. At the 12 month follow-up appointment, the patient exhibited full quadriceps and hamstring strength. She denied instability symptoms, and her knee pain had improved.

Almost all cases of medial patella subluxation are caused by extensive release or over-release of the lateral retinaculum that was intended to relieve anterior knee pain or patellar instability [3] [4] [5] [6] . There is limited literature describing isolated or spontaneous MPS in the absence of a previous lateral release [7] [8] .

MPS was first described in 1987 by Betz et al. as a complication of lateral retinacular release [10] . Since then, Hughston et al. reported medial subluxation in 50% of knees with recurrent patellar dislocation in which arthroscopic lateral retinacular release was performed [11] . Shellock et al. reported medial subluxation in 13 of 14 knees (93%) with recurrent patellar dislocation in which lateral retinacular release was performed [12] .

The most common findings of MPS after lateral retinacular release are anterolateral knee pain, tenderness, and a palpable defect at the focal site of a previous lateral retinacular release. Additionally, pain and apprehension are noted when medial stress is applied to the patella. Isolated MPS has similar clinical findings except that there are no previous surgical scars suggestive of lateral retinacular release. In our patient, there was no previous surgical history; however, she presented with joint effusion, tenderness to palpation, a palpable defect on the lateral side of the patella, and a positive medial apprehension test on physical examination. In the present case, noting aggravating symptoms after a previous minor trauma was helpful in the diagnosis. We believe that a lateral retinacular tear might have occurred with the trauma, and it gradually progressed into a large lateral retinacular defect, which is similar to the complication of a failed lateral retinacular release procedure.

Various surgical techniques have been used to treat MPS including open retinacular closure, lateral retinaculum imbrication, lateral retinaculum reconstruction, and lateral patellofemoral ligament reconstruction [3] [8] [13] [14] . We chose an open lateral retinacular closure, which is a form of direct repair focused on reapproximating the lateral retinacular tissue without the need for more invasive lateral patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Postoperatively, medial dislocation of patella did not occur, and knee pain improved.

If a patient is not acutely aware of patellar dislocation and has no previous surgical history, the recognition of isolated MPS can be difficult. Therefore, a high index of suspicion, careful medical history taking, physical examination, and radiologic examination is needed for accurate diagnosis.

Hwang, S.H., Nam, C.H., Choi, K.W. and Ahn, H.S. (2017) Medial Patella Subluxation after Minor Trauma. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 7, 295-300. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojo.2017.710029