Tape Augmentation Does Not Affect Mid-Term Outcomes of Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Mature Adolescent Patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate mid-term outcomes after medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction with and without tape augmentation in the skeletally mature adolescent population. METHODS: All patients under age 18 with recurrent patellar instability treated with surgery at a single institution by a single surgeon from January 2013 through June 2017 were identified by current procedural terminology codes. Inclusion criteria were (1) primary MPFL reconstruction, (2) minimum 3 years’ follow-up, (3) skeletal maturity. Exclusion criteria were (1) bilateral MPFL reconstruction using different techniques on each knee, (2) prior surgery for patellar instability. Chart and imaging review was completed. Patients were contacted to complete a questionnaire, which included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form. RESULTS: Fifty-one of 92 eligible patients completed questionnaires. Two patients were excluded. Twenty patients underwent 23 non-augmented MPFL reconstructions; 29 patients underwent 33 augmented MPFL reconstructions. Group demographics were similar. At 4.9 ± 1.2 years follow-up, mean IKDC scores were 77.4 and 79.4 in the nonaugmentation and augmentation groups, respectively. Significantly fewer patients in the augmentation group experienced further injury to their ipsilateral knee compared to the non-augmentation group (6% vs 30%, P = .019). Fewer knees in the augmentation group developed recurrent subjective instability or dislocation after initial surgery requiring surgical correction compared to knees in the nonaugmentation group, although this difference was not significant (6% vs 17%, P = 0.181). Overall patient-reported outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes after MPFL reconstruction with or without tape augmentation. Tape augmentation significantly decreased the risk of subsequent ipsilateral knee injuries, although it did not show a significant difference in recurrent dislocations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, therapeutic case series.