Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment After Acute Patellar Dislocation: Which Is More Effective at Reducing Recurrence in Adolescents?

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing conservative and surgical treatments for acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents

PURPOSE

This study sought to clarify treatment evidence to treat patellar dislocation by evaluating which treatment could yield better improvement of clinical outcomes for acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases were searched for relevant articles comparing clinical outcomes of conservative and surgical treatments for acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents published from March 2008 to August 2022. Data searching, extraction, analysis, and quality assessment were performed on the basis of the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. The quality assessment of each study was investigated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) critical appraisal scoring system and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale scores. To calculate the overall combined effect size for each outcome, Review Manager Version 5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Software Update, Oxford) was employed.

RESULTS

Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one prospective study were investigated. In terms of pain [mean difference (MD) 6.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73-11.45, I² 0%], there were significantly better outcomes in conservative group. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in any evaluated outcomes such as redislocation [risk ratio (RR) 1.36, 95% CI 0.72-2.54, I² 65%], Kujala score (MD 3.92, 95% CI -0.17 to 8.01, I² 0%), Tegner score (MD 1.04, 95% CI -0.04 to 2.11, I² 71%), or subjective results (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.74-1.34, I² 33%) between conservative and surgical treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite better pain outcomes with conservative group, the present study revealed no significant differences in clinical outcomes between conservative treatment and surgical treatment in children and adolescents with acute patellar dislocation. Since there are no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups, routine surgical treatment is not advocated for treating acute patellar dislocation in children and adolescents.

Current concepts in the treatment of first-time patella dislocation in children and adolescents

Background

Lateral dislocation of the patella is a common injury in children. It can occur in previously healthy and anatomically normal knees, but there are several abnormalities that predispose to patellar instability. Magnetic resonance imaging is an essential part of assessing for associated injuries and risk of further instability. Treatment aims to prevent redislocation, residual instability, osteoarthritis, and allow return to previous activities. The purpose of this review was to assess evidence for management of first-time patella dislocation in children and adolescents.

Methods

Literature review was performed, accompanied by the current best practice by the authors.

Results

Non-operative treatment is preferred, except where there are associated injuries such as osteochondral fractures that would benefit from surgery. The exact method of ideal non-operative management is not clearly defined but should focus on restoration of range of movement and strength with bracing as indicated. There seems to be a trend toward operative intervention that may well be inappropriate.

Conclusion

Further prospective studies are required with focus on the younger patient to fully understand if there is an at-risk group that would benefit from early surgery.

Level of evidence

level III.

Comparison Between Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment for Primary Patellar Dislocations in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies

Background:

Whether surgical or nonsurgical management is more appropriate for primary patellar dislocations (PPDs) in adolescents (younger than 18 years) remains controversial.

Purpose:

To compare the clinical outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for adolescents and children with PPDs.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

There were 2 reviewers who independently searched the PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane databases for English-language studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, and observational studies comparing surgical with nonsurgical treatment for PPDs. The primary outcomes were redislocations, the Kujala score, and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the secondary outcome was subsequent surgery.

Results:

A total of 6 studies were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. Among patients younger than 18 years, surgery was associated with a lower redislocation rate compared with nonsurgical treatment within 5 years of treatment (risk ratio [RR], 0.58 [95% CI, 0.37-0.91]; P = .02; I² = 47%) but not beyond 5 years (RR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.59-1.07]; P = .14; I² = 34%). However, surgery resulted in worse Kujala and KOOS scores compared with nonsurgical treatment. Yet, the treatment difference between the 2 groups tended to decrease over time.

Conclusion:

The available evidence suggests that for adolescents with PPDs, surgery was superior to nonsurgical treatment in the short term to reduce the redislocation rate but resulted in poorer outcomes of knee function based on the Kujala and KOOS scores. However, the superiority of either surgical or nonsurgical treatment in adolescents did not appear to persist in the long term.