What are the risks of MPFL reconstruction?

Risks specific to this operation

• Stiffness or loss of bending, usually from a graft set too tight or from slow early rehabilitation
• Pain at the front of the knee, sometimes related to existing cartilage wear under the kneecap
• Recurrent instability, more likely when anatomical factors such as a very shallow groove or a high kneecap were not also addressed
• Fracture of the kneecap at the graft fixation site, which is rare and linked to drilling technique
• Numbness of a small patch of skin near the incisions

General surgical risks

• Wound infection, usually superficial and treated with antibiotics
• Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the leg), which is why early walking and, in some patients, blood-thinning medication are used
• Bleeding into the joint causing swelling
• Anaesthetic risks, discussed with the anaesthetist beforehand

How the risks are reduced

Accurate placement of the graft on the thigh bone, checked with X-ray during surgery, is one of the most important steps, because a misplaced graft can cause stiffness or pain. Setting the graft at the right tension, treating any associated bony factors at the same time, and starting supervised physiotherapy early all help.

Telling your surgeon about previous blood clots, smoking, diabetes or other health problems lets the team plan extra precautions.

Warning signs after surgery

Contact the team at Aman Hospital in Doha promptly if you develop a fever, redness or discharge from a wound, calf pain or swelling, sudden breathlessness, or a sudden painful clunk with loss of control of the knee. Dr. Gelber reviews any concerns and explains your individual risk profile before you decide on surgery.