Arthroscopic removal of a loose body osteophyte fragment after superior patellar dislocation with locked osteophytes.

The authors report the case of a loose body from a fractured osteophyte after a superiorly dislocated patella with locked osteophytes. Few cases of superiorly dislocated patellae have been reported in the literature and no cases of osteophyte fracture fragments after locked osteophytes with subsequent arthroscopic loose body removal have been reported. The loose body was removed and the distal pole of the patella was debrided arthroscopically. This patient and the majority of previously reported cases, herein reviewed, had patella alta with pre-existing patellofemoral arthrosis. Patella alta in the face of patellofemoral arthrosis should be considered a risk factor for loose body formation. Therefore, recurrent superior patellar dislocation and locking osteophytes may be a relative indication for pre-emptive arthroscopic debridement of locked osteophytes.