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J Knee Surg 2021; 34(04): 363-371
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1696647
Original Article

Timing for Safe Return to Sport after Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction: The Role of a Functional Test Battery

Fabrizio Matassi
1   University of Florence, Orthopaedic Clinic CTO, Florence, Italy
,
Matteo Innocenti 
1   University of Florence, Orthopaedic Clinic CTO, Florence, Italy
,
Cozzi Lepri Andrea
1   University of Florence, Orthopaedic Clinic CTO, Florence, Italy
,
Luigi Zanna
1   University of Florence, Orthopaedic Clinic CTO, Florence, Italy
,
Joseph Malone
2   Department of Internal Medicine/Orthopaedics, Torshovsdalen Legesenter and Oslo Legevakt, Oslo, Norway
,
Roberto Civinini
1   University of Florence, Orthopaedic Clinic CTO, Florence, Italy
,
Massimo Innocenti
1   University of Florence, Orthopaedic Clinic CTO, Florence, Italy
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Abstract

The purpose of this article was to analyze clinical and functional results after medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction and to establish if a computer-assisted physical test battery could determine a “safe timing” to return to sport. We hypothesized that “time-based” criteria to declare safe return to sport could not be reliable to predict functional recover. Fifty-eight young athletic patients were selected after isolated reconstruction of MPFL. The minimum follow-up was 8 months. All the patients were evaluated subjectively with Kujala and Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores and objectively through a standardized computer-assisted physical battery of seven tests (Back in Action, Corehab). No patient was lost at the end point of follow-up and no recurrence of patellar dislocation was reported. At 8 months, 31 patients (53.4%) returned to sport at preoperative levels, and 23 (39.6%) participated in sports at lower levels. The subjective evaluation reported an increase of Kujala (60–92.7) and SF-36 score (28.6/25.4–52.2/53.6). At computer-assisted objective assessment, only 23 patients (39.6%) fulfilled the criteria for safe return to sport, while 31 (53.4%) got an insufficient outcome and 4 (6.9%) failed to complete the test. From our data, clinical scores after MPFL reconstruction provide only little insight into return to sport. The introduction of a computer-assisted objective analysis in the decision-making process for proper return to sport is necessary to evaluate functional recovery and dynamic knee stability.

Keywords

MPFL reconstruction - return to sport - functional evaluation - battery test


Publication History

Received: 13 October 2018

Accepted: 15 July 2019

Article published online:
04 September 2019

© 2019. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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