Complications in Patellofemoral Instability Surgery

As patellofemoral stabilization surgery has become increasingly popular, reports of its resultant complications have continued to grow. In medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, 47% of the complications are reported to be due to improper technique, including tunnel malpositioning and graft tensioning. Complications of tibial tuberosity osteotomy include fracture, nonunion, painful hardware, and deep venous thrombosis. The results of trochleoplasty have been described more recently, and the reported complications of arthrofibrosis, hardware breakage, and patellofemoral pain after this procedure are reviewed. Lateral release is uncommonly performed by patellofemoral experts, but will be discussed owing to its still common use in the general community with potential complication of medial patellar instability. The goal of this review is to highlight the unique complications that can occur with patellar instability surgery and identify techniques to avoid them.