Anatomic Risk Factors for Patellofemoral Joint Instability: An Infographic as a Visual Learning Tool

Angelo V Vasiliadis; Theodore Troupis; Dimosthenis Chrysikos; Dimitrios Chytas; George Noussios

doi:10.7759/cureus.53170

Anatomic Risk Factors for Patellofemoral Joint Instability: An Infographic as a Visual Learning Tool

Cureus. 2024 Jan 29;16(1):e53170. doi: 10.7759/cureus.53170. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Authors

Angelo V Vasiliadis¹, Theodore Troupis², Dimosthenis Chrysikos³, Dimitrios Chytas⁴, George Noussios⁵

Affiliations

¹ Sports Trauma and Orthopaedic Department, St. Luke's Hospital, Thessaloniki, GRC.
² Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, GRC.
³ Department of Anatomy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, GRC.
⁵ Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.

Abstract

Patellofemoral instability is a complex pathology with multiple risk factors, which affects mostly young females and may avert them from both activities of daily living and sports participation. Risk factors for instability include patella alta, trochlea dysplasia, abnormal lateral patellar tilt, and increased tibial tuberosity-trochlea groove distance. The knowledge of these anatomical abnormalities is the key to identifying the problem and succeeding in treating the patients.

Keywords: patella alta; patella instability; patellofemoral; risk factors; trochlea dysplasia.

Publication types

Editorial