Joseph discusses a skiing accident that led him to see Dr. Sabrina Strickland for an MPFL Reconstruction and Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

https://sabrinastrickland.com

Patella (Kneecap) Instability
In the front of the knee the kneecap slides up and down in a groove in the thigh bone. Sometimes it can slip out causing pain, swelling and cartilage injury.

How does it feel?
It can feel unstable and in severe cases it can be difficult to fully extend the knee. Sometimes patients have to go to the ER to get the patella back into the groove. Often these injuries are accompanied by swelling and it can take weeks to months to feel normal again.

How does it happen?
In some patients it happens without any trauma and at a young age. In others it can occur playing sports with or without a contact injury. It can recur especially when it first happens before the age of 25.

How can it be fixed?
In most cases it can be fixed by reconstructing the MPFL (Medial PatelloFemoral Ligament) which is a minimally invasive surgery with a 4-6 month recovery. In patients who have suffered cartilage damage the surgery may be more complicated with the addition of a bone re-aligning surgery such as a tibial tubercle osteotomy and/or a cartilage replacement surgery.