Orthopedics This Week reports on the findings of a study by HSS researchers and others recently published in the Journal of Knee Surgery, which found how the patella lies may be more consequential than previously thought as it pertains to patient outcomes, cartilage health or malalignment.

HSS sports medicine surgeon and study co-author Sabrina M. Strickland, MD, noted, “We know that any type of knee surgery, especially an arthrotomy, can cause scarring and patella baja (an abnormally low lying patella, which is associated with restricted range of motion). I hypothesized that after a patellofemoral arthroplasty, patients may have scarring of their patellar tendon and/or fat pad leading to a decrease in patellar height.”

She continued, “I think the most important finding of this study was that 73% of patients undergoing patellofemoral arthroplasty actually had patella alta [a high patella]. We know this is a risk factor for patellofemoral arthritis and this is just another data point that suggests that potentially, realignment at a young age may prevent this.”

Dr. Strickland concluded, “I was surprised by how many patients with end-stage patellofemoral arthritis still were patella baja as I would have guessed that their patellar tendons would have contracted over time. We did not observe significant postop reduction in patellar height which suggests that those with severe patella alta may benefit from tibial tubercle distalization to optimize tracking.”

Read the full article at Ryortho.com.