UC Irvine

Successful management of patellar osteochondral lesions has proved difficult, with unreliable outcomes reported using traditional cartilage repair and restoration procedures. Unique considerations for this type of defect include the multiplanar contours of the articular surface of the patella, high compressive and shear forces with knee range of motion that may disrupt graft healing, and the potential need for concomitant surgery to address patellar malalignment and instability. We describe our preferred method for treatment of a symptomatic chondral defect in the setting of recurrent patellar instability using particulated juvenile articular cartilage allograft transplantation and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with semitendinosus allograft. Distinct advantages of this cartilage restoration technique include single-stage restoration of relevant cartilage pathology and the ability to easily contour the graft to the size and shape of the chondral defect.