[Patellar instability in children. Result of transposition of the medial third of patellar tendon].

Before bony maturity, the treatment of the recurrent dislocation of the patella is based on tendinous transfers. These distal procedures were often combined with proximal procedures on the medial or lateral patellar retinaculum and vastus medialis muscle. For the purpose of analysing efficacity of the medial third tendon transfer to the distal and deep part of the medial collateral ligament before the bony maturity, 24 children have been reviewed with a post operative follow up of 14 months to 6 and half years. There were 4 boys and 20 girls between 7 to 15 years old at the time of surgery. The troubles duration before the operation was from a few days to 4 years and the pathology was very often bilateral (40 knees). The recurrent dislocation of the patella was present 6 times, an instability 25 times and a traumatic dislocation 9 times. The technical procedure was every time a stabilisation with the transfer of medial third of the patellar tendon, associated except in 6 cases with a correction of the patellar motion by patellar retinaculum plasties. The functional result has been evaluated according to the sport activity and the ordinary life, with very hard criteria according to patient's age. Twenty-four times the result was excellent (60 per cent), 8 times good (20 per cent) and fair 8 times. Two complications have been observed. The improvement of the trochlea angle, and the trochlea deepness have been significant. Sixteen patients (27 knees) have been reviewed after the bony maturity and no growth disturbance of the tibial tuberosity has been observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)