Patellar Tendon Imbrication for the Treatment of Patella Alta in Skeletally Immature Patients

Patella alta is a major contributor to recurrent patellar instability, which is commonly seen in young athletes. Distalizing tibial tubercle osteotomy has been used for the correction of patella alta and patellar instability, but this procedure is contraindicated in the skeletally immature patient population, as it could lead to growth arrest of the proximal tibial physes. We propose a patellar tendon imbrication technique as a soft-tissue alternative to tibial tubercle osteotomy. When used with concomitant medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, we suggest this procedure may prove beneficial for the treatment of patellar instability in skeletally immature patients.