The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and clinical outcome following medial patello-femoral ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstring tendon grafts for patellar instability.

Over a 4 year period the senior author operated on 35 patients for lateral instability of the patella. The predominant initiating event was a sporting injury. Patients were evaluated clinically and functionally. The Fulkerson score was utilised pre and post operatively. The minimum follow up was 6 months, the mean follow up was 20 months. There were 18 males and 17 females. The mean age was 24.6 years. The mean pre-operative Fulkerson score was 59.3(range 6–100). The mean post operative Fulkerson score was 83.6(range 25–100), the mean improvement was 24.3.

24 patients returned to sporting activities

The main complications was one patient with a patella fracture that was stabilised with internal fixation, one patient requiring exploration and reinforcing the ligament which had attenuated. Both patients finally had a good clinical outcome.

Our study has shown that symptomatic lateral instability of the patella can be effectively treated with a medial patello-femoral ligament reconstruction and result in overall good clinical and functional outcome.

We would recommend this technique