Coronal patellar osteotomy of the external facet combined with the release of the lateral retinaculum improves the clinical outcomes of isolated lateral release in lateral knee compartment syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel coronal osteotomy of the external facet of the patella, and to evaluate if the outcomes of the treatment of lateral knee compartment syndrome (LKCS) with this osteotomy, combined with the release of the external lateral retinaculum, are better than the isolated lateral retinacular release.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study with a 2 year follow up that included 70 patients diagnosed with LKCS, distributed into 2 groups. The first group included 50 patients on whom the lateral retinacular release combined with osteotomy was performed, and a second group on whom an isolated retinacular release was performed. Measurements were made using the Werner functional scale before the surgery and at 3, 12, and 24 months follow-up.

RESULTS: There were significant differences in the overall functional state between the two groups after the surgery (better in the osteotomy group at all the intervals, P<.05). The improvement, which was progressive up to 12 months, was slightly less at 24 months, although the values were still better than the pre-surgical ones in both groups. Pain was the variable that showed most improvement. The patients with LKCS with degenerative signs showed a benefit in all cases.

CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the described patellar osteotomy technique, combined with lateral retinacular release, significantly improves the pain and the functional scale score of patients with LKCS after 2 years of follow-up, to a greater extent than isolated lateral retinacular release, including those in which there was evidence of degenerative signs.