Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament by means of the anatomical double-bundle technique using metal anchors()

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate double-bundle reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) using a graft from the semitendinosus tendon and fixation with metal anchors over the medium term. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. After approval from the research ethics committee, 31 patients with patellofemoral instability who underwent MPFL reconstruction by means of the anatomical double-bundle technique, with fixation using metal anchors, were analyzed between May 2010 and January 2015. To evaluate the effectiveness of the MPFL reconstruction surgery, the Kujala scale and the Tegner–Lysholm score were assessed before the procedure and one year afterwards, along with clinical data such as pain levels, range of motion and J sign. The data were tabulated in the Excel(®) software and were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics(®) software, version 21. The statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon T test and the McNemar test. RESULTS: The mean preoperative score from the Kujala test was 45.64 ± 1.24 and the postoperative score was 94.03 ± 0.79 (p < 0.001). The preoperative Tegner–Lysholm score was 40.51 ± 1.61 and the postoperative score was 91.64 ± 0.79 (p < 0.001). The preoperative range of motion was 125.96 ± 2.11 and the postoperative range was 138.38 ± 1.49 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MPFL reconstruction by means of the anatomical double-bundle technique is easily reproducible, without episodes of recurrence, with satisfactory results regarding restoration of stability and function of the patellofemoral joint.