One-year recovery after lateral retinaculum release combined with chondroplasty in patients with lateral patellar compression syndrome.

Zhen-Long LIU; Yi-Ting WANG; Jin-Ming LIN; Wu-Ji ZHANG; Jiong-Yuan LI; Zhi-Hui HE; Yue-Yang HOU; Jian-Li GAO; Wei-Li SHI; Yu-Ping YANG

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One-year recovery after lateral retinaculum release combined with chondroplasty in patients with lateral patellar compression syndrome.

Author: Zhen-Long LIU ¹ ; Yi-Ting WANG ² ; Jin-Ming LIN ² ; Wu-Ji ZHANG ³ ; Jiong-Yuan LI ⁴ ; Zhi-Hui HE ⁵ ; Yue-Yang HOU ⁵ ; Jian-Li GAO ⁵ ; Wei-Li SHI ⁵ ; Yu-Ping YANG ⁶
Author Information

1. Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, 100096, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, 100096, China; Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100096, China; Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital-Chongli, Zhangjiakou, 076350, Hebei Province, China.
2. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
3. The Eighth School of Clinical Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
4. China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, 100029, China; Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
5. Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital-Chongli, Zhangjiakou, 076350, Hebei Province, China.
6. Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, 100096, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, 100096, China; Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100096, China; Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital-Chongli, Zhangjiakou, 076350, Hebei Province, China. Electronic address: yyyyppvip@sina.com.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Chondroplasty; Lateral patellar compression syndrome; Lateral retinaculum release; Osteophyte
MeSH: Humans; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Middle Aged; Patella/surgery*; Knee Joint/physiopathology*; Recovery of Function; Young Adult; Treatment Outcome; Cartilage, Articular/surgery*; Adolescent
From: Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(6):462-468
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: PURPOSE:Lateral patellar compression syndrome (LPCS) is characterized by a persistent abnormally high stress exerted on the lateral articular surface of the patella due to lateral patellar tilt without dislocation and lateral retinaculum contracture, leading to anterior knee pain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of lateral retinaculum release (LRR) combined with chondroplasty in the treatment of LPCS.
METHODS:This retrospective study evaluated 40 patients who underwent LRR combined with chondroplasty for LPCS between 2020 and 2021. The assessment included improvement in postoperative tenderness and knee joint function. Patients were evaluated using the Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scoring systems, as well as the visual analog scale, both preoperatively and postoperatively, with the paired comparisons analyzed using a t-test. Additionally, intraoperative observations were made regarding knee joint lesions, including cartilage damage and osteophyte formation, with analysis by the Chi-square test.
RESULTS:The visual analog scale score for tenderness showed a significant decrease after surgery (p < 0.001). Evaluation of knee joint function also indicated significant improvements, as demonstrated by increased Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scores postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, all LPCS patients included in the study presented with cartilage injuries and osteophyte formation. Significant differences were noted in the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation at different locations within the knee among patients with LPCS.
CONCLUSION:LRR combined with chondroplasty is an effective surgical approach for treating patients with LPCS, with satisfactory recovery observed at the 1-year follow-up. Additionally, the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation in LPCS patients varies significantly depending on the specific location within the knee joint.