Affect of Attachment Site on Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction: A Finite Element Analysis

Bony anatomy, soft tissue restraints, and the dynamic action of the quadriceps all play a role in maintaining patellar stability throughout knee motion. The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is the main soft tissue restraint to lateral translation of the patella, and helps guide the patella into the trochlear groove during the first 30° of knee flexion [1]. Studies have shown that the MPFL is the most consistently injured anatomical structure after acute lateral patellar dislocation [2]. Due to the high rate of recurrent episodes of instability following conservative management of acute lateral patellar dislocation, a number of bony and soft tissue procedures have been described to restore patellar stability, including MPFL reconstruction [2].