Trochleoplasty improves knee flexion angles and quadriceps function during gait only if performed bilaterally.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate if a trochleoplasty increases knee flexion angles and extensor moments in the gait of patients with patellar instability and to compare postoperative gait to a healthy control group. METHODS: A bilateral dislocation group (6 patients) and a unilateral dislocation group (14 patients) were treated with bilateral and unilateral trochleoplasty, respectively. Kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremity were captured using 3D-gait analysis (VICON, 12 cameras, 200 Hz, plug-in-gait, two force plates). The mean of six trials was computed. The gait cycles were compared pre to postoperatively for each group. The gait of the two groups was compared to each other and the gait o..