Patella - trochleoplasty

• PATELLA MENU
• intro
• patellar mechanics
• pain related to patella
• referred pain
• plica syndrome
• patellar instability
• cartilage damage
• realignment surgery overview
• proximal realignment
• distal realignment
• trochleoplasty
• patellectomy
• resurfacing
• tendinosis
• fractures
• arthrofibrosis and patella infera
• braces

Trochleoplasty - or re-shaping of the groove in which the patella tracks - is an operation which may, in expert hands, be done to prevent patellar dislocation related to a very abnormal trochlea (eg trochlear dysplasia).

Some people are born with a flattened or abnormal trochlea, that is abnormal walls of the groove in which the patella rides. This renders them prone to recurrent subluxation and dislocation.

Trochleoplasty is a procedure which attempts to restore function to the trochlea by raising the side walls to better contain the patella from dislocation. It is a specialist procedure.

Trochlear dysplasia

An abnormally-shaped or flattened trochlea is called 'trochlear dysplasia'.

Patellar dysplasia

Trochlear dysplasia is often found in correlation with 'patellar dysplasia', ie when the patella, too, is of an abnormal shape.