The Knee Learning Resource
A trochleoplasty is a surgical procedure to re-shape the walls of the trochlear groove.
Usually the outer (lateral) wall is higher than the inner (medial) wall, and the patella is contained during knee flexion (bending) within these walls.
If the groove is insufficiently deep or the walls too low, then the patella may flip out of the groove - this is called patellar dislocation.
Trochleoplasty may involve deepening the groove or elevating the wall (usually the lateral wall, which should be higher than the medial).
The procedure is known to have a relatively high failure rate, and more so in older patients, and there is also a high incidence of post-operative arthrofibrosis. It is not a procedure to be undertaken lightly and is only performed in centres with special expertise.
Other relevant resources on this site:
There is currently no content classified with this term.
The information offered on the website is designed to support, not to replace, the relationship between patient and clinician.
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.