Surgical treatment options in patellofemoral disorders

Disorders of the patellofemoral joint are common and usually respond to nonoperative treatment. In some cases, conservative treatment fails and surgical intervention may be considered. Over the past year, new approaches to the surgical treatment of patellar tendinopathy, patellar cartilage lesions, and patellar instability have been reported. The outcomes of these studies are limited by a lack of knowledge of the natural history of these disorders, poor study design, and inconsistent outcome criteria. Whether a role for more aggressive treatment of these disorders is warranted awaits further study.