Clinical prognosticators for the efficacy of retinacular release surgery to treat patellofemoral pain.

The purpose of this prospective study was to identify clinical, pathologic, and roentgenographic factors that might serve as prognosticators for acceptable results after a lateral retinacular release for treatment of patellofemoral pain unresponsive to conservative measures. Fifty-two knees in 45 patients were studied. The data indicated that acceptable results can be expected in patients who have a negative mal-loose sign (no evidence of patellar malalignment or hyperlaxity) or a positive Sage sign (tight lateral parapatellar soft-tissue structures). Poorer results are predictable in patients with patellar hypermobility.