An operation designed to achieve simultaneous decompression and
realignment of the patella has been used by the senior one of us (B. J. M.)
for the treatment of selected patients with patellofemoral pain since 1978.
The procedure isolates the tibial tubercle as a pedicle and simultaneously
rotates it medially and anteriorly. Patellar tracking is then checked
intraoperatively, and no bone graft is required. This paper reports the
results of the procedure in thirty-eight knees in twenty-nine patients. The
minimum length of follow-up was 2.5 years. Twenty-one knees were graded as
excellent; twelve, as good; and five were considered to be failures. Of the
twenty-five knees that were followed for four years or more, twenty-one
were rated as excellent or good and four were failures.