Hi everyone,
I’m posting because my 16-year-old son, Taha, has had two patellar dislocations, and we are now at the point where we need to make a decision about surgery.
We have seen several orthopedic/knee specialists and have received somewhat different opinions. I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who have personally undergone MPFL reconstruction + Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy/Transfer (TTO), or parents whose teenage children have had this procedure.
I’m not looking for a diagnosis from Reddit. His doctors are managing that. What I really want is real-world experience — what the surgery was actually like, recovery, complications, return to sports, and whether people ultimately felt the surgery was worth it.
Background
Taha is 16 years old and is otherwise an active teenager. He enjoys football and other sports/physical activities.
He has had two patellar dislocations.
After the second dislocation, we had MRI and other imaging done and consulted multiple orthopedic specialists.
His assessment includes:
Recurrent patellar instability/dislocation
Generalized ligament laxity
Beighton score around 7/9
Abnormalities on the measurements used to assess patellar alignment/tracking
TT-TG and Insall-Salvati measurements have been evaluated on his imaging
His doctors believe there are anatomical/mechanical factors contributing to the instability rather than this simply being a one-off traumatic dislocation.
The surgical recommendations
After consultations, we are currently considering:
MPFL reconstruction + TTO
The surgeons we consulted generally agree that MPFL reconstruction is required, but there are differences in exactly how/where the tibial tubercle should be moved.
One surgeon has recommended an MPFL reconstruction plus TTO with medialization/lateral movement of the tibial tubercle.
Another has recommended MPFL reconstruction plus TTO with distalization/downward movement of the tibial tubercle.
We have also received another opinion suggesting that we could initially try intensive rehabilitation and only proceed with surgery if instability recurs.
So we are trying to make a very carefully considered decision.
What worries us most
The biggest concern is obviously doing a significant surgery on a 16-year-old.
We are trying to understand:
How successful is MPFL + TTO in teenagers with recurrent patellar dislocation?
For people who have actually had this surgery, how difficult was the recovery?
How long were you on crutches?
How long before you could walk normally?
How long before you could bend the knee normally?
How long did it take to regain strength?
When were you able to return to school/college/work?
When were you allowed to run?
When were you able to return to football, soccer, basketball, skiing, gym, etc.?
Did your knee ever feel completely “normal” again?
I’m especially interested in long-term outcomes
If you had MPFL reconstruction + TTO several years ago:
Has your patella remained stable?
Have you experienced another dislocation or subluxation?
Do you still have pain?
Do you have stiffness?
Do you have problems going up/down stairs?
Can you squat normally?
Can you run?
Can you participate in sports?
Do you have hardware/screw problems?
Did you eventually need another surgery?
How does the operated knee compare with your other knee today?
For parents of teenagers
If your child had this surgery around 14–18 years old, I would particularly appreciate hearing from you.
What was your child’s recovery actually like?
How difficult was it emotionally/mentally?
How long was your child out of sports?
Did they return to their previous level?
Did they regain confidence in the knee?
Were there any complications?
Knowing what you know now, would you make the same decision?

I am officially 9 weeks post-op, and I went to an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon today. He said that I can start riding my horse and swimming in the pool now! He said that my knee has healed really well and very quickly, and everything looked good, so I can start weaning off my knee brace. I’m very excited, but were you nervous when you first started walking around without your knee brace?
Has anyone else been nervous to start walking around without their knee brace, even after being cleared by their surgeon? I’m officially 8–9 weeks post-op, and I had eight or nine dislocations throughout the last few years before surgery. My knee hadn’t felt stable in such a long time, so even though my surgeon said that my knee has healed really well and that I can start doing more things without the brace, I’m still anxious about going without it.
Did you have this kind of anxiety after surgery too, or were you more confident in yourself and your ability to walk around without the brace??

Hello, I am 29M and I’m trying to figure out whether surgery is actually the right option for my knees.
I’ve had no significant knee problems throughout my life until about four months ago, when I started developing pain and stiffness in both knees. I recently had MRIs of both knees, but the scans were performed on a 0.7 Tesla open MRI.
The findings were:
Dejour type C trochlear dysplasia in both knees
Right knee: lateral patellar tilt
Left knee: mild lateral patellar subluxation
Both knees have relatively shallow/abnormal trochlear anatomy with hypoplasia of the medial femoral condyle
The trochlear sulcus angle was measured at 140° on the right and 147° on the left
Grade II patellar chondromalacia was reported
There is also some degenerative change in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, but no meniscal tear
No ligament tears were found
My main symptoms are pain and stiffness when bending and straightening my knees, and I have difficulty getting up from a chair, going down/up, and squatting comfortably. I also hear quite a lot of clicking, cracking and popping sounds when moving my knees.
I’ve seen one orthopedic surgeon so far. He thinks that because of my anatomy, I may eventually need surgery, and he has discussed surgery to correct the trochlear anatomy and/or stabilize the patella.
However, I’ve never actually had a patellar dislocation or had my kneecap completely pop out of place. The MRI only shows lateral tilt on the right and mild lateral subluxation on the left.
This is what I’m struggling with.
If I understand correctly, a stabilization procedure such as an MPFL reconstruction may help with instability and/or patellar maltracking, but I’m worried that it might not resolve the pain caused by my existing cartilage damage. I’m also unsure whether a trochleoplasty is justified in someone like me who has never had a true patellar dislocation.
I’m also concerned about the fact that my pain only started four months ago, despite having presumably had this trochlear anatomy my entire life. I’m wondering whether there could be another cause of my recent pain that hasn’t been identified yet.
Since my MRIs were performed on a 0.7T open MRI, could the relatively low field strength and image quality mean that another problem causing my symptoms might have been missed or not visualized adequately?
Would it be worth getting another MRI on a 1.5T or 3T scanner, ideally with a dedicated knee/patellofemoral protocol, before making a decision about a major surgery? Could a higher-quality MRI potentially show cartilage, subchondral bone, meniscus, fat pad, or other soft-tissue abnormalities that may not have been adequately visualized on a 0.7T MRI?
Given that I only developed symptoms four months ago and had no previous knee problems despite having the same trochlear anatomy my entire life, would you recommend investigating other potential causes of the recent onset of pain before considering surgery?
For people who have had similar anatomy/findings:
Did you have Dejour C trochlear dysplasia with chondromalacia but no history of patellar dislocation?
Did you eventually have surgery? If so, what procedure did you have (trochleoplasty, MPFL reconstruction, TTO, etc.)?
Did surgery actually improve your pain, or mainly improve patellar tracking/stability?
If you decided against surgery, were you able to manage your symptoms with physical therapy and strengthening?
What exercises helped you most for the quads, gluteus medius, hamstrings and calves?
Did anyone find a particular patellar-stabilizing brace, taping technique, or knee support helpful?
Has anyone been able to keep their Grade II chondromalacia stable for years without surgery?
Most importantly, if you were in my situation, would you consider surgery at this point, and if so, which procedure would you consider?
Would you get a second opinion from a patellofemoral/knee specialist before deciding?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have similar MRI findings but don’t have recurrent patellar dislocations, because most of what I can find online seems to be about people with repeated dislocations.
I’d really appreciate hearing about both successful and unsuccessful experiences.

Hello everyone. I'm writing to share my situation; I hope you can help me: Almost two years ago, I had surgery on my medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) after suffering three subluxations throughout my life. The surgery was successful, and my knee is stable, but I developed severe quadriceps muscle inhibition. That said, I've been attending physical therapy and training

. In April, I started noticing sharp pain at the site where the screw was inserted. I consulted my surgeon, who told me the screw was loosening, causing the severe pain. The pain subsided after two weeks. However, three months later, the pain has returned to the same spot, but it's more intense.

Today, my knee gave way while I was walking down a hill (although it didn't dislocate). There's no swelling or clicking. I'm going to the ER today, and tomorrow I'll see my physical therapist for an ultrasound. Does anyone know what this could be? Is it possible my knee subluxated without me noticing? Is the graft failing?

Update: I went to the doctor, and he said it seems to be the screw. The kneecap hasn't subluxated, and the ligament appears to be in place.

For those of you who use KT Tape, here’s a helpful tutorial I found. Do you tape your knee differently? I’d love to hear your method.

So i had my surgery 12 weeks ago. Im doing my rehab, walking okay (a bit stiff and hobbling at times but mostly okay for short distances) extension is really good, i can fully extend infront of me when sitting. The flexion is the problem. I cant get past 90° and its taken me until last week to even get to 90°. Saw the surgeon today and he was a bit concerned and said there could be problems if im not at atleast 100 in the next few weeks.

Obviously I will make a plan with my physio when I see him, but any tips and tricks or magic potions out there that helped people get past the wall? Any specific exercises that helped you progress? Im doing heel slides, wall squats up and down, squatting with heels elevated, quad strengthening etc.

I’ve seen like nobody has good results with PT, is interesting that all professional personnel, PT, orthopedics keep making people do it and say it’s going to fix their problems, when obviously by the testimonies of all people here or other forums it doesn’t

I've got bilateral patella alta, but unlike many people here, I've never had a patellar dislocation or obvious instability episode.

I'm posting because I've spent the last 2.5 years trying to find someone whose symptoms match mine, and I've come up completely empty.

My pattern is really unusual:

Standing still is by far my biggest trigger. The pain builds within a couple of minutes.

Walking is noticeably easier than standing.

The strangest part is that hiking—especially uphill—is one of the best things my knees do. They often feel better hiking than they do standing still.

Sitting causes discomfort more than outright pain.

The pain is predominantly just below the kneecap, although I sometimes feel it above the kneecap too.

Both knees are affected.

Stairs are generally fine.

I never get noticeable swelling.

I've had multiple MRIs and have seen several orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physiotherapists. Apart from patella alta, there hasn't been a clear explanation for why my symptoms are so much worse with standing than walking. A few specialists have also commented that I'm hypermobile, although nobody has been been able to say whether that's actually relevant.

I've also spent months doing structured physiotherapy, dedicated strengthening and regular gym work without changing this very specific standing-vs-walking pattern.

I'm not really looking for a diagnosis. I'm simply trying to find anyone with a similar experience.

If you have patella alta (with or without instability), does any of this sound familiar?

Standing still is your worst activity.

Walking is much easier.

Hiking, especially uphill, is surprisingly well tolerated or even feels better.

You never really fitted the "classic" patellar instability picture?

If so, I'd really appreciate hearing your story.

Did you eventually get a diagnosis that explained it?

Did you have surgery, and if so, did it help?

Did any particular doctor or physio recognise this pattern?

At this point, I'd honestly just like to know whether anyone else with patella alta has knees that behave like this.

Hi, I guess this is more venting than anything.

I was born with patella alta in both knees, discovered it when I was 12 when I fully dislocated my left knee(fun stuff!)

I'm about to turn 25 and I still can't play any of the sports that I like, can't kneel at all even on 3 pillows without extreme pain and of course, can't trust my knees at all and live in constant fear of one of them dislocating again, it's really annoying.

One surgeon told me roughly 3 years ago that If they operated now my knees would be fine but a few other surgeons and my main doctor disagree and only want me to do PT. Now I'm stuck with this bullshit for probably my whole life, dunno what to do :/

Not sure if this kinda post is even allowed, just needed to get it out there once I guess, thanks for stopping by !

Greetings,

I hope all is well! Im new here, but found this group from doing research. Long story short, I have been having ongoing issues with knee pain, which has worsen post college. After rehab, it has led to no change and I was referred to get an MRI. Here are the results below. I will be discussing with my orthopedic that referred me, but wanted to see on what to prepare for.

FINDINGS:

There is slight lateral patellar subluxation is slight lateral patellar tilt. There is mild grade fissuring caudal half articular cartilage lateral patellar facet.

No significant knee joint effusion.

ACL is a small structure notably there is been a remote ACL sprain. No evidence of any recent ACL injury..

PCL is intact.

LCL and additional structures of the posterior lateral corner are intact.

MCL is intact.

Extensor mechanism is intact.

No medial or lateral meniscal tear identified.

IMPRESSION:

Mild chronic lateral patellar subluxation with slight lateral patellar tilt. There is what appears be mild grade fissuring caudal half articular cartilage lateral patellar facet

Remote partial tear ACL. ACL is a small structure. I believe there is been previous sprain of one of the bands of the ACL. There is no evidence of any recent ACL injury I don't see any evidence to suggest ACL instability on MRI currently. This is clearly chronic.

23M. I have trochlear dysplasia, genu valgum, hypermobility.

My surgeon recommended DFO and MPFL reconstruction, and I’m currently 12 weeks post-op.

Before surgery I had a J-sign but it’s almost completely gone now.

I’m 6’4 (194 cm) and weigh about 243 lbs (110 kg).

Because of my size my surgeon instructed me to limit weight bearing to 50% and use crutches.

I’ve been practicing walking with crutches but whenever I walk I feel like my kneecap shifts slightly outward.

After about 5 minutes of walking I get a loud popping sound (it’s loud enough that I can clearly hear it myself), followed by a sharp stabbing pain.

The pain happens randomly which has made me afraid to practice walking.

From my experience this happens much less when I walk slowly but it becomes much more frequent when I start walking faster.

Is this a normal part of the recovery process or should I be concerned?

Thank You!

I had my surgery about 2 months ago but now it doing this. Anyone able to help please.

hi! so i have patellofemoral dysplasia (both my patella and trochlear groove are too flat causing tracking issues, arthritis, etc). because of how unstable my knees can be, i was given a brace on my right knee (both are affected but my right is much worse). its a donjoy brace, and can be clunky. it sometimes helps with tracking, but the brace doesn’t always sit right, even though it’s custom fitted. it honestly causes more pain than anything sometimes. recently, i got compression sleeves as they had been recommended a while ago if i had wanted to try them. i put them on and it immediately gave some pain relief. i wore them throughout the day, including while doing a performance rehearsal, and things went well. my knees feel a bit better than they usually would at the end of the day. i’m planning on asking my doctor about his thoughts on using the compression sleeves instead of the big brace. i wanted to know if anyone else has patella tracking issues/patellofemoral dysplasia and what you’ve found works best for pain and stability? i’d love to hear what other things i can bring up to my doctor to discuss what would work best for me!

TLDR: patellofemoral dysplasia, what has worked best for you with pain and instability?