A 58-year -old man with a past history of acquired emphysema was admitted after his legs 'gave way' as he walked down a short flight of steps. He was unable to extend either knee actively. Bilateral patellar tendon ruptures were diagnosed clinically from the history, and the finding of swelling and a palpable gap below the lower pole of each patella. The diagnosis was confirmed radiologically (...

Congenital lateral dislocation of the patella is a rare condition caused by displacement of the extensor mechanism of the knee, which occurs before or shortly after birth (Malkin 1932). The patella is small and cannot be replaced in its normal position except by operation. This type of dislocation differs from recurrent or habitual dislocation of the patella, which occurs during childhood or ad...

Congenital dislocation of the patella may be a phenotype, which has several genotypes, i.e. it may be congenital or acquired. This hypothesis is suggested with three illustrative case studies. Risk factors predictive of the development of irreducible dislocation of the patella in infancy are suggested. As there is a spectrum of possible aetiologies, 'late' diagnosis and a number of 'risk' facto...

INTRODUCTION Iatrogenic patellar fracture is reported as a complication of patella procedures, such as medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee using bone-patellar tendon-bone technique, and resurfacing the patella in total knee arthroplasty. CASE PRESENTATION A 65-year-old lady with right patella fracture was treated with ope...

injury, I opened the joint, under spray, by a semilunar-shaped incision, extending from side to side across the front of the joint, its convexity passing over the lower part of the patella. By reflecting upwards the flap thus formed, the patella was completely exposed, and was found broken into five pieces. A horizontal fracture divided the bone into two nearly equal portions which were widely ...

We describe a series of three patients who sustained patella tendon injuries in infected total knee arthroplasties following the use of a static cement spacer at first-stage knee revision. The patella tendon injuries resulted in significant compromise to wound healing and knee stability requiring multiple surgeries. The mid-term function was poor with an Oxford score at 24 months ranging from 1...

Eighteen patients with acute dislocation of the patella had associated osteochondral fractures. This fracture complicates approximately 5% of all acute dislocations of the patella occurring in children. Three types of fracture patterns were noted. All patients who were treated by immediate arthrotomy and excision or replacement of the osteochondral fragment and repair of the acute dislocation o...

Recurrent dislocation of the patella probably has several causes. In many patients abnormal laxity of the knee is present and this may predispose to dislocation (Dc Palma 1954). A family has come to our notice in which three members suffered recurrent dislocation of the patella and a fourth had probably sustained a single dislocation. All the former had abnormally lax knees and most other joint...

The objective of this study was to explore the clinical effect of medial and lateral retinaculum plasty for congenital patellar dislocation due to small patella syndrome. Twelve patients with congenital patellar dislocation due to small patella syndrome treated at the authors' hospital between January 2005 and February 2010 were enrolled in the study. The study group comprised 4 men (4 knees) a...