ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RADIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS AND OSTEOCHONDRAL DAMAGE IN PATIENTS WITH PATELLAR INSTABILITY

OBJECTIVES: Osteochondral damage is a potential consequence of patellar instability that is associated with an increased risk of arthritis and lower patient reported outcomes. Currently, there is little evidence of risk factors associated with osteochondral damage in the setting of patellar instability. The purpose of this study was to identify the association of patient demographics, chronicity of patellar instability, and radiographic measurements with osteochondral damage in adolescent patients with patellar instability. METHODS: Upon obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, a chart review was conducted to identify patients 18 years of age and younger treated for patellar instability between 2013 and 2018 at a tertiary referral center. Patients with both acute traumatic and chronic recurrent dislocations with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results available were included. Patients were excluded if they had a previous ipsilateral patellar instability surgical intervention. MRI exams were reviewed, and measurements were conducted for Caton-Deschamps (CD) ratio, proximal tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (pTT-TG), distal tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (dTT-TG), lateral trochlear inclination (LTI), lateral patellar inclination (LPI), and sulcus angle. Logistical regression was conducted using binary outcome of presence or absence of osteochondral damage (Statistical Analysis Software, Cary, NC). Odds ratios were calculated for parameters that were statistically significant (p<0.05). RESULTS: A total of 129 knees and 122 patients (average age at first visit 14.4±3.0, 51% female) were identified with patellar instability, of which 53% had osteochondral damage. Approximately one third of patients (67%) were treated with surgical management. There was no association identified between osteochondral damage and sex, age, BMI, symptom duration, physeal status, or number of dislocation (acute vs chronic). Of the radiographic measurements evaluated, LTI, LPI, sulcus angle and dTT-TG all had a statistically significant association with the presence of osteochondral damage (Table 1). Every 1-unit decrease in LTI (more trochlear dysplasia) was associated with a 6% increased chance of osteochondral damage. Every 1-unit increase in LPI, sulcus angle, and dTT-TG is associated with an increased chance of osteochondral damage of 5.5%, 5.8%, and 11.3%, respectively. The CD ratio and pTT-TG had no association with osteochondral damage. Confidence intervals, p-values, and odds ratios are presented in Table 1. CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between radiographic parameters, particularly those that correlate with higher levels of trochlear dysplasia, and osteochondral damage in adolescent patients with patellar instability, but no association with being either an acute or chronic dislocator. Clinically, this may impact the management of patients presenting with patellar instability and no radiographic evidence of osteochondral damage. In these patients, clinicians may have a lower threshold for surgical interventions in those with higher levels of trochlear dysplasia as evidenced by decreased LTI and an increased LPI, sulcus angle, and dTT-TG.