Surgical Reconstruction of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament

The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is the primary soft-tissue stabilizer of the patella, acting as a checkrein to lateral patellar displacement. Considering the growing awareness regarding the anatomy and biomechanics of MPFL, numerous studies have been conducted on surgical reconstruction of the MPFL. However, while MPFL reconstruction has been recognized as an established surgical procedure for recurrent patellar dislocation with overall favorable clinical outcomes, there are numerous debatable issues that have not yet been resolved. These include a lack of consensus regarding surgical indications, graft selection, graft tensioning, surgical technique, and indications for other surgical procedures. Since the cause of patellofemoral instability is multifactorial and there is still no conclusive evidence that a particular surgical option is superior to others, thorough evaluation of proper patient selection and individualized surgical planning is required to yield successful outcomes.