Higher Percentage of Patients Return to Work than Sport Following Tibial Tubercle Anteromedialization

OBJECTIVES: Tibial tubercle anteromedialization (AMZ) is a commonly performed procedure for patients with patellofemoral instability or patellofemoral osteochondral disease. While the clinical outcomes following the procedure are good, the time needed to return to work and sport remains unclear. METHODS: Patients who underwent AMZ for either patellofemoral instability or patellofemoral osteochondral lesions with a minimum follow-up time of 1-year were identified. Patients were asked to complete a series of patient reported outcomes surveys including specific queries regarding their return to work and return to athletic activity. RESULTS: 109 patients (mean age: 30.74±9.90 years, 72.3% female) were included with a mean follow-up of 3.40±1.97 years. 64 patients underwent AMZ for patellofemoral instability and 45 as part of their treatment for patellofemoral osteochondral disease. Of the 80 patients who were involved in sport prior to injury, 75.0% returned to athletics at a mean 9.21±5.46 months (range 1-24 months). 104 patients (95.4%) returned to work at a mean time of 2.96±3.33 months (range 0.25 to 24 months). There was a significant difference in time of return-to-work between those with a physically-demanding job and those with a sedentary job (4.26±3.82 months vs 2.25±1.81 months, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: At a minimum follow-up time of 1 year, patients who underwent AMZ were found to have a return to sport rate of 75% with a mean time of 9.21 months to return to athletic activity. Over 95% of AMZ patients had returned to work at 1 year post-procedure. Patients required an average of 3 months to return to work, although those with physically demanding jobs required slightly more time. Data from the current study is useful in setting expectations for patients undergoing tibial tubercle anteromedialization (AMZ) for patellofemoral instability or patellofemoral osteochondral disease.