Patellofemoral Instability Secondary to Trochlear Dysplasia - A Case Report

Patellofemoral joint instability is a debilitating condition that affects the biomechanical relationships between the soft tissues and the bony architecture of the knee joint. Trochlear dysplasia is an identifiable etiology in 85-96% of patients with patellar instability. Trochleoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims at restoring a sulcus or creating a near-normal trochlear deep enough to accommodate the patellar in the trochlear groove, restoring patellofemoral congruence, patella tracking, and biomechanics during flexion and extension. This case report describes a sulcus-deepening trochleoplasty through a superolateral parapatellar arthrotomy in a 15- year-old adolescent who presented with a severe form of patellar instability due to trochlear dysplasia.