Patella (Knee-Cap) Stabilisation

A dislocation of the knee-cap (patella) may occur on a single occasion and not require any surgical intervention. Some patients may however experience repeated knee-cap dislocations in which case surgery will be considered. There are a range of surgical options depending on the anatomy of the individual patient and the underlying reason for the dislocations. Possible interventions include ligament (patello-femoral) reconstruction or a bone re-alignment procedure. Sometimes a combination of procedures may be recommended in order to increase the chance of a successful outcome. Post-operative physiotherapy is required and the maintenance of good quadriceps function is key to maintaining a healthy knee. Patella stabilisation can be a complex area of orthopaedic surgery, particularly in patients with lax ligaments (sometimes referred to as being ‘double-jointed.’)