Surgical Management of Patellofemoral Instability in the Skeletally Immature Patient

Compared with skeletally mature patients, skeletally immature patients are at a higher risk of acute traumatic patellar dislocation. Surgical treatment is the standard of care for patients with recurrent instability and requires important and technically challenging physeal considerations. Physeal-sparing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction is the treatment of choice for these patients, replacing older nonanatomic extensor mechanism realignment techniques. Implant-mediated guided growth is an important adjunct to correct genu valgum angular deformities that contribute to patellar instability. Patient-specific surgical techniques and proper surgical indications are crucial for successful outcomes.