Filippo Migliorini1, Jörg Eschweiler2, Marcel Betsch3, Matthias Knobe4, Markus Tingart5, Nicola Maffulli6. 1. Department of Orthopaedic, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: migliorini.md@gmail.com. 2. Department of Orthopaedic, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: joeschweiler@ukaachen.de. 3. Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, Lucerne, Switzerland. Electronic address: marcel.betsch@gmx.de. 4. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim of the University Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 5. Department of Orthopaedic, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: mtingart@ukaachen.de. 6. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy; School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University School of Medicine, Thornburrow Drive, Stoke on Trent, England, UK; Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Mile End Hospital, 275 Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG, England, UK. Electronic address: n.maffulli@qmul.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence concerning the influence gender, age, and the time elapsed from the first dislocation to surgery in the outcomes of Medial Patella Femoral Ligament (MPFL) reconstruction are lacking. This systematic review was conducted to investigate whether patient characteristics have an influence in the clinical outcomes of MPFL reconstruction for patients with patellofemoral instability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. The main databases were accessed in February 2021. All the studies reporting outcomes of primary MPFL reconstruction in patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability were considered for inclusion. A multivariate analysis diagnostic tool was used to analyse the association between age, gender and time from injury to surgery and the surgical outcomes at last follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 50 articles (2037 procedures) were included. The mean follow-up was 40.90 ± 24.8 months. The mean age was 23.6 ± 3.9 years. 64.3% (1309 of 2037 patients) were female. The mean time from injury to surgery was 64.5 ± 48.9 months. Women showed no statistically significant association with the Kujala score or complications. Older patients had a reduced risk to incur re-dislocations (P = 0.01) and revisions (P = 0.01). Longer time from injury to surgery was associated with greater risk to incur re-dislocations (P = 0.01), and with lower Kujala score (P < 0.0001). No other statistically significant association was evidenced. CONCLUSION: The time span from the first patellar dislocation to the surgical reconstruction was a negative prognostic factor, while sex had no influence on surgical outcomes. The role of patients age on surgical outcomes remains unclear.
BACKGROUND: Evidence concerning the influence gender, age, and the time elapsed from the first dislocation to surgery in the outcomes of Medial Patella Femoral Ligament (MPFL) reconstruction are lacking. This systematic review was conducted to investigate whether patient characteristics have an influence in the clinical outcomes of MPFL reconstruction for patients with patellofemoral instability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. The main databases were accessed in February 2021. All the studies reporting outcomes of primary MPFL reconstruction in patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability were considered for inclusion. A multivariate analysis diagnostic tool was used to analyse the association between age, gender and time from injury to surgery and the surgical outcomes at last follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 50 articles (2037 procedures) were included. The mean follow-up was 40.90 ± 24.8 months. The mean age was 23.6 ± 3.9 years. 64.3% (1309 of 2037 patients) were female. The mean time from injury to surgery was 64.5 ± 48.9 months. Women showed no statistically significant association with the Kujala score or complications. Older patients had a reduced risk to incur re-dislocations (P = 0.01) and revisions (P = 0.01). Longer time from injury to surgery was associated with greater risk to incur re-dislocations (P = 0.01), and with lower Kujala score (P < 0.0001). No other statistically significant association was evidenced. CONCLUSION: The time span from the first patellar dislocation to the surgical reconstruction was a negative prognostic factor, while sex had no influence on surgical outcomes. The role of patients age on surgical outcomes remains unclear.