Returning to pre-injury level of sports before 9 months after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction increases the incidence of anterior knee pain in young patients

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2024-08
• Main Authors: Xu, Chenyue, Zhao, Yuchen, Ni, Zhengyi, Li, Kehan, Kang, Huijun, Wang, Fei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1002/ksa.12411

This study aimed to identify the risk factors for anterior knee pain (AKP) after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR). Patients aged 15-35 years who underwent isolated MPFLR between 2012 and 2022 were included in the study. These patients were divided into two groups (AKP and control group). Patient demographics and preoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes between the two groups were assessed and compared. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the potential risk factors associated with postoperative AKP. Subgroup analysis stratified the results based on the time to return to sports (RTS) (>9 and ≤9 months). Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between Kujala score and time to RTS. A total of 206 patients were included (AKP, n = 59; control, n = 147). At the 2-year follow-up, patients with AKP demonstrated a shorter duration in returning to their pre-injury activity level compared to those without AKP (9.0 ± 3.6 vs. 10.3 ± 2.7 months, p