The Diagnosis and Treatment of Medial Subluxation of the Patella After Lateral Retinacular Release

Five patients with medial subluxation of the patella oc curring after isolated lateral retinacular release were treated between July 1985 and July 1989. The diag nosis was made by clinical examination. The patients complained of pain, swelling, and giving way after the lateral release. All five patients had increased medial passive patellar mobility, a positive gravity subluxation test, and a positive medial apprehension test. All pa tients failed conservative treatment. The patients were treated by reconstruction of the lateral retinaculum using sensory epidural anesthesia. At an average fol lowup of 3.3 years, four of the five patients had no symp toms of instability and the medial patellar mobility and gravity subluxation tests were negative. There were three excellent and two good results using the grading system of Merchant and Mercer.