Effect of Elmslie-Trillat and Roux-Goldthwait procedures on patellofemoral relationships and symptoms in patients with patellar dislocations.

Seventeen patients (18 knees) with a history of one or more patellar dislocations underwent Elmslie-Trillat (9 knees [group 1]) or Roux-Goldthwait (9 knees [group 2]) patellar realignment surgery. Anterior knee pain was evaluated with a questionnaire, and lateral patellar displacement and tilt were analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging both pre- and postoperatively. Postoperative evaluations were performed after 44 and 50 months (mean) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The Elmslie-Trillat procedure provided better subjective relief of anterior knee pain and symptoms. One redislocation occurred in each group. Both procedures relieved excessive patellar lateralization, but the effect on patellar tilt was less marked. In patients who underwent the Roux-Goldthwait operation, a less pronounced correction of tilt and lateralization appeared to correlate with more satisfactory subjective results.