Those who experience patellar dislocations during their younger years may be at a higher risk of reoccurrence, especially long-term after their initial injury, according to a recent study from the Mayo Clinic.

The study was presented during the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting, held in Toronto.

“Our research showed that within the study group, 104 patients had ipsilateral recurrent patellar dislocation, with over 20% of cases occurring in the first two years following the initial injury,” notes Thomas L. Sanders, MD, corresponding author from the Mayo Clinic, in a media release from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. “By 15 and 20 years, this number had reached 54% of patients—a concerning rate of recurrence.

The study included 232 skeletally immature patients, defined as such if their proximal tibia and distal femoral physes were open at the time of dislocation. Those selected experienced a first-time lateral patellar dislocation between 1990 and 2010. Subjects were followed for a mean of 12.1 years to determine rates of subsequent dislocations, or clinically significant patellofemoral arthritis.

“Despite high numbers of recurrence, our research showed that these young patients did not develop significant patellofemoral arthritis,” Sanders comments, in the release. “We hope to use our research to help educate both physicians and parents on the risks young athletes face after these injuries in their early years, and hopefully take steps to prevent them.”

The study adds to previous studies, which typically show 40% of adolescent patients go on to experience a recurring patellar dislocation, the release continues.

[Source(s): American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Newswise]