All you need to know about
Kneecap
As a patient, your number one priority is to completely understand the steps in your surgery.
You are the principal actor of your surgery
You will be the only one present from the beginning to the end of the care process, from A to Z and beyond. In other words, you need to be part of the project. To help you feel an integral part of the surgical team, it is important that you are well informed and know how to communicate with your caregivers.
Good and bad news
Good news .
The pain always goes away if there is no morphological abnormality. Very rarely, the symptoms persist after 24 years, unless the knee has unfortunately been operated on. This situation does not lead to arthrosis.
Less good news.
The exact origin of this pain is still unknown. Several hypotheses, such as hyperpressure in the external patellofemoral compartment or a delay in muscle lengthening during bone growth, have not been validated. Another hypothesis that has not been scientifically validated is hypervascularisation of the knee ligament. However, the failure of certain muscles, particularly the gluteus medius, or the rigidity of other muscles, such as the quadriceps or hamstrings, is frequently observed.
The pain can last for many months and the teenager may have to give up certain sports.
There is no miracle method, but a series of measures can provide greater comfort.
What are the expected benefits of surgery for recurrent dislocation of patella ?
Knee stability is the main benefit. This manifests itself in the absence of new dislocations, a new confidence in your knee. Stability improves in 90% of cases. In severe cases, the results are more mixed and incomplete. Any pain is also improved, but only in 80% of cases.
Although it may take several months, the result of a first operation is often very satisfactory if the surgical treatment has taken into account the factors that favour recurrent dislocation of the patella. Ideally, you will forget that you had surgery: it is the forgotten knee. Improved function allows you to return to social activities and sports. Most activities are possible again, but not all activities are desirable or recommended.
Adolescent anterior knee pain
What is the role of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL)?
The analogy of migraine
Many years ago we developed the concept of ‘knee migraine’. As with migraines, it is not clear what causes the pain because the cartilage is not innervated. And yet everyone understands that a migraine is not cured by opening the skull. The same goes for kneecap (patellar) pain syndrome. Certain methods (painkillers, coffee) can help migraine sufferers. There are also many methods that help to get over patellar pain syndrome.
But this situation is often difficult for the teenager, who is experiencing her first pains and is reluctant to compromise. They do not yet know that time is their best ally. Unfortunately, one operation can lead to a series of operations, each of which only serves to “repair” the previous one. It is better not to start. If the clinical examination has been done, if the complementary examinations have been normal, you should trust your surgeon. Too many opinions will overmedicate a situation that will take a long but excellent time to develop.
