Patients’ experiences of living with patellar instability before and after surgery: a qualitative interview study

OBJECTIVES: To explore the experience of living with patellar instability before and after surgery. DESIGN: Qualitative individual semistructured interviews of patients with patellar instability using a four-step thematic cross-case analysis strategy (systematic text condensation). SETTING: Two orthopaedic units within two large Hospitals in Norway. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 15 participants, aged between 16 and 32 years, who had undergone surgery for patellar instability within the last 6–12 months. RESULTS: Participants offered rich and detailed descriptions of the impact and lived experience of patellar instability, including fear of new dislocations, increased awareness of the knee and adaptations to avoidance behaviour in everyday life both before and after surgery. The four major themes that emerged from the data were: (1) fear of patella dislocations governs everyday life activities, (2) adaptation to avoidance behaviour, (3) feeling different, misunderstood and stigmatised affects self-esteem and (4) feeling stronger, but still not fully confident in the knee after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: These findings offer insight into the experience of living with patellar instability. Patients reported that the instability had major impacts on their everyday life, affecting ability to participate in social life and physical activities both before and after surgery. This may imply that an increased attention towards cognitive interventions may be useful in the management of patellar instability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05119088.