To assess the clinical and radiographic results of the Elmslie-Trillat-Marquet procedure used to treat recurrent patellar subluxation or dislocation with patellar malalignment.

A total of 15 knees in 14 patients were evaluated at an average of 54.5 months (12 to 106) following the Elmslie-Trillat-Marquet procedure; carried out between May 1993 and March 2000. The evaluation included subjective, objective and radiographic assessments.

The causes of recurrent patella dislocation were patella alta (11 knees), tight lateral retinaculum (8 knees), patella dysplasia (7 knees), femoral condyle dysplasia (13 knees) and joint hyperlaxity (1 case). The average preoperative Q-angle was 28.5° and the postoperative angle 13 °. Subjective evaluation using Cox's criteria showed excellent or good results in 13 knees (87%), and the objective evaluation using Fulkerson's functional knee score showed excellent or good results in 14 knees (93%). The mean anterior tibial tubercle displacement was 8 mm (7-11 mm), and the patella congruence angle and Insall-Salvati index were significantly corrected (p<0.001). Lateral subluxation and patellar tilt angle were corrected in all cases. The only complication was an irritation due to nonabsorbable suture material. There were no redislocations, infections, nonunions, or fractures of the transferred tibial tubercle during the follow-up period.

The Elmslie-Trillat-Marquet procedure for recurrent patellar subluxation or dislocation can basically correct malalignment tridimensionally.