The medial patellofemoral ligament.

There has been substantial progress in our understanding of the medial patellofemoral ligament during the past 10 years. This structure is the primary static soft-tissue restraint to lateral patellar displacement. Substantial alteration of normal patellar tracking occurs after sectioning of the ligament. Clinical studies have demonstrated the medial patellofemoral ligament is disrupted during acute patellar dislocation. Recently, several medial patellofemoral ligament-based procedures have been developed for the treatment of patellar instability with good early results. However, further studies are needed to define the exact role of these procedures in the treatment of patellofemoral instability.