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Review
. 2018 Jun;11(2):280-284.
doi: 10.1007/s12178-018-9484-1.

Return to Play after Patellar Stabilization

Seth L Sherman  1 , Daniel P Deasis  2 , Andrew J Garrone  2 , Elliott E Voss  2 , Harvey A Oliver  2
Affiliations
Review

Return to Play after Patellar Stabilization

Seth L Sherman et al. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the existing literature regarding return to play (RTP) and return to prior performance (RPP) following patellar stabilization surgery. It will also discuss suggested guidelines regarding RTP, and finally, to encourage future patellofemoral instability research to report and publish results of RTP rates using standardized RTP guidelines.

Recent findings: There is a lack of validation and universal adoption of standardized RTP guidelines. This has led to a dearth of high-quality studies on RTP and RPP after patellar stabilization. The best available studies to date would suggest high RTP rates (84%-100%), average RPP rates (33%-77%), and a highly variable timeframe for return (3-12 months). Patellofemoral instability can be a persistent and challenging problem, particularly in the young and active population for which it most often occurs. Much of the previous studies on patellofemoral instability evaluated success and failure as prevention of recurrent dislocation. However, prevention of recurrence alone may not be enough for many patients. The best available data on RTP and RPP following patellofemoral instability is based on lower quality of evidence studies, expert opinion, and published societal guidelines. Future research on this topic should include clinical validation of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) RTP guidelines and reporting of outcomes based on these guidelines in patellofemoral instability publications.

Keywords: Patella instability; Patella stabilization; Return to prior performance; Return to sport.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Seth L. Sherman grants from Arthrex, Inc., personal fees from Ceterix Orthopaedics, personal fees from CONMED Linvatec, personal fees from Moximed, personal fees from Neotis, personal fees from Regeneration Technologies Inc., personal fees from Vericel, grants from Zimmer, other from ACL Study Group, other from American Journal of Orthopedics, other from American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, other from Arthroscopy, other from Arthroscopy Association of North America, outside the submitted work. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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