Effect of a patella-stabilizing brace on lateral subluxation of the patella: assessment using kinematic MRI.

This study investigated the effect of a special patella brace on patients with lateral subluxation of the patella using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fifteen patients were assessed with and without application of the brace (Shields Patella Stabilizing Brace, Hely & Weber, Santa Paula, Calif) using active-movement, against-resistance kinematic MRI of the patello-femoral joint. Kinematic MRI examinations were evaluated using previously described qualitative criteria to determine patello-femoral relationships. Eleven (73%) patellofemoral joints had improvement (55%) or correction (45%) of lateral subluxation of the patella. The brace failed to alter the position of the patella in four (27%) patients who had patella alta (two patients) or were extremely overweight (two patients). This study provided objective findings that application of the brace improved or corrected lateral subluxation of the patella in the majority of patients. This information has important implications for the conservative treatment of patients with this form of patellar malalignment.