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Sagittal plane tilting deformity of the patellofemoral joint: a new concept in patients with chondromalacia patella

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this study were to evaluate sagittal plane alignment in patients with chondromalacia patella via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), analyse the relationships between the location of the patellar cartilaginous lesions and sagittal alignment and finally investigate the relationships between the sagittal plane malalignment and patellofemoral loadings using by finite element analysis.

Methods

Fifty-one patients who were diagnosed with isolated modified Outerbridge grade 3–4 patellar chondromalacia based on MRI evaluation and 51 control subjects were evaluated. Chondromalacia patella patients were divided into three subgroups according to the chondral lesion location as superior, middle and inferior. The patella–patellar tendon angle (P–PT) was used for evaluation of sagittal alignment of patellofemoral joint. Each subgroup was compared with control group by using P–PT angle. To investigate the biomechanical effects of sagittal plane malpositioning on patellofemoral joint, bone models were created at 30°, 60° and 90° knee flexion by using mean P–PT angles, which obtained from patients with chondromalacia patellae and control subjects. The total loading and contact area values of the patellofemoral joints were investigated by finite element analysis.

Results

The mean age of all participants was 52.9 ± 8.2 years. The mean P–PT angle was significantly lower in chondromalacia group (142.1° ± 3.6°) compared to control group (144.5° ± 5.3°) (p = 0.008). Chondral lesions were located in superior, middle and inferior zones in 16, 20 and 15 patients, respectively. The mean P–PT angles in patients with superior (141.8 ± 2.7) and inferior subgroups (139.2 ± 2.3) were significantly lower than the values in the control group (p < 0.05). The contact area values were detected higher in models with chondromalacia than in the control models at the same flexion degrees. There were increased loadings at 30° and 90° flexions in the sagittal patellar tilt models.

Conclusion

This study revealed that sagittal plain malpositioning of the patellofemoral joint might be related to chondromalacia, especially in the presence of lesions in the upper and lower part of the patella. This condition leads to supraphysiological loadings on the patellofemoral joint. Sagittal patellar tilt should be considered in the evaluation and management of patellar cartilage defects. Taking sagittal plane malalignment into consideration in patellofemoral joint evaluation will enable us to design new physical and surgical modalities.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Park Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Ertugrul Aksahin

  2. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey

    Cem Nuri Aktekin

  3. Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Onur Kocadal & Murad Pepe

  4. Radiology Department, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Semra Duran

  5. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Cüneyd Gunay

  6. Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, University of Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey

    Defne Kaya

  7. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Onur Hapa

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  1. Ertugrul Aksahin
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Correspondence to Ertugrul Aksahin.

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Aksahin, E., Aktekin, C.N., Kocadal, O. et al. Sagittal plane tilting deformity of the patellofemoral joint: a new concept in patients with chondromalacia patella. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 3038–3045 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4083-4

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