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Pediatric trochleoplasty



At the Children's Health℠ Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, our philosophy of care is founded in research, education and injury prevention. Children’s Health is home to one of the world’s top trochleoplasty experts, and is the only hospital in Texas offering this innovative procedure to correct patellar instability and prevent dislocated kneecaps.

At Children’s Health Andrews Institute, our team helps kids regain their ability to move through everyday life and return to athletics, strong and healthy.

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What is pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

A trochleoplasty is a surgery to correct a specific area of a bone in the leg, called the femur, when it has developed abnormally. Usually, the kneecap – called the patella – glides along a groove in the femur. That groove is known as the trochlea.

Sometimes the trochlea is shallow, flat or bumped up, instead of having a well-developed groove, and when that happens, the condition is called trochlear dysplasia. When that happens, the kneecap can easily and frequently dislocate. A trochleoplasty procedure, indicated when there is high grade dysplasia (flat or convex/bumped up), fixes this problem by creating a new trochlear groove, thus enabling patients with their best chance to return to sports and activities.

What are the benefits of pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

A trochleoplasty surgery creates a new, more normal, trochlear groove. By creating a proper groove, the procedure allows the kneecap to move normally without instability and gives the patient the best possible chance to prevent future dislocations. Ligaments that have been damaged by kneecap dislocations are also fixed at the same time.

Numerous published studies have shown the efficacy, patient satisfaction and safety profile of trochleoplasty. The risk of have a future knee cap dislocation after a trochleoplasty is less than 1%.

What are the possible risks and side effects of pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

Stiffness in the knee is the most common post operative risk that would require repeat surgery. Fortunately, this risk is only 5-10% and is generally avoidable with early rehabilitation. Any surgical scar will have a numb patch next to it and trochleoplasty is no exception. Fortunately, the numb patch is on the far outside aspect of the knee and is of little to no bother to most, if not all, patients. Most patients will have pre-existing cartilage damage at the time of surgery.

While the trochleoplasty fixed the problem that caused the cartilage damage, cartilage has no self-healing capacity so it is appropriate to counsel patients that a small cartilage defect could get bigger in the future and require treatment. A long term goal of a trochleoplasty is to slow down any the progression of any pre-existing cartilage damage as much as possible. There is a chance of cartilage damage during surgery in the form of a crack or fissure. This is a rare occurrence and it has not been demonstrated to impact short or long term outcomes.

What are Children's Health's outcome metrics for pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

The Children’s Health team uses the Banff Patellar Instability Instrument (BPII), the Kujala knee pain score and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score to help determine a patient’s improvement after surgery.

What to expect with pediatric trochleoplasty surgery

The trochleoplasty procedure is an outpatient surgery, and patients are generally released to go home within a couple of hours after they wake up. There are no knee range of motion restrictions and patients can weight bear as tolerated afterwards. Crutches are typically needed for walking assistance for 2-4 weeks after surgery. 

Physical therapy (PT) will start roughly one week after surgery. A rather noticeable amount of knee swelling is expected for at least 6-8 weeks after surgery and is not a cause for alarm unless there are other symptoms that accompany the swelling. Most patients are back to some level of sporting activities with 4-6 months.

What to expect before pediatric trochleoplasty surgery

Before surgery, patients will meet with their surgeon for an assessment. The doctor will likely ask for X-rays, an MRI and, occasionally, a CT scan. These imaging tests allow your doctor to look inside the patient’s knee, understand the problem and plan the surgery.

On the weekday day before your surgery, the care team will reach out to you about when you should arrive at the surgery center or hospital. The care team (your surgeon, nurses, and other specialists) will review the surgery plan with you and welcome any questions you have.

The care team will also talk to you about what to expect after the procedure and what you can do to ensure the best possible recovery.

Patients are put to sleep using general anesthesia. The operation takes about two hours.

What to expect during pediatric trochleoplasty surgery

In the operating room, the surgeon will make two incisions on the knee. The new trochlear groove is created by elevating the cartilage of the trochlea and removing bone to shape a new groove. The cartilage is molded into the new groove and secured.

For most patients, ligaments on either side of the kneecap that have been damaged because of previous dislocations. These ligaments are reset using a donor's tendon to augment and strengthen the ligaments on the inner aspect of the kneecap.

What to expect after pediatric trochleoplasty surgery

Patients are generally released to go home within a couple of hours after surgery. For the first couple of days, your knee will feel painful and stiff. Your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medication. However, most patients don't need to take it for more than a week. Cold therapy is strongly encouraged as well.

Your knee will get better faster if you flex, bend and move it soon after surgery. Patients are also encouraged to put as much weight on their knee as they can tolerate. Depending on how their knee feels, the patient will need to use crutches for two to four weeks after their procedures.

What do recovery and long-term rehabilitation look like after pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

Your surgical care team will connect you with a physical therapy (PT) team to plan an evaluation within one to two weeks after surgery. One benefit of coming to the Children’s Health Andrews Institute is that our physical therapists specialize in treating athletic conditions and are fully integrated into our surgical care program. This means they work closely with your surgeon, to understand what your needs are and create a tailored physical therapy plan.

Our physical therapists will work with you to design immediate and long-term goals for your health, safety and participation in activities. We aim to have patients fully rehabilitated and cleared to resume sports within four to six months.

How do I prepare for pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

If you are young and healthy, there is not typically any bloodwork or extra physician visits needed. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, or are above the age of 40, then there will be the need for bloodwork and pre-surgical clearance from either your primary doctor or a specialist.

Patients will not be able to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. If you have a prescription medication that you need to take in the morning, this is typically fine to do with a sip of water but it’s important to share those medications with the nurse who calls you the day before surgery.

What questions should I ask my provider about pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

  • What other procedures correct trochlear dysplasia?
  • How many trochleoplasties have you done?
  • What are your trochleoplasty success rates?
  • How long will it take to recover?
  • What kind of physical therapy or rehabilitation support will I need to do?
  • Are there any risks or complications that I should know about?
  • Is there anything I should watch out for during recovery that might be abnormal?
  • What level of pain is typical during the days and weeks after surgery?
  • When will I be cleared for full activity after surgery?

Pediatric trochleoplasty doctors and providers

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does it take to recover from pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

    Patients are generally discharged to go home one to two hours after the procedure. Most will use crutches for two to four weeks, as needed for comfort and support. Patients are encouraged to put weight on their knee as soon as possible to test their comfort. They will not require a knee brace. Most don't need pain medication for more than seven days.

    Most patients fully recover from the surgery within six months.

  • What complications could a patient experience during recovery from pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

    After surgery, the most common complication is that the knee stiffens and doesn't bend properly. By moving the knee right away, patients can almost completely avoid stiffening.

  • What if a patient has had procedures to try to stabilize the patella before and the surgery has failed? Are they still eligible for pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

    Patients are eligible for trochleoplasty even if they had previous knee surgeries. Each patient is evaluated to see what treatment is best for them. In addition to the degree of trochlear dysplasia present, the biggest deciding factor for determining if a patient is a good candidate for a trochleoplasty is the status of the cartilage on the kneecap and the trochlea. 

    This is most frequently determined from an MRI but rarely may require a small procedure done separately where a camera is inserted in the knee (diagnostic arthroscopy) to get a direct look at the cartilage surfaces.

  • What physical therapy or rehabilitation is needed after pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

    Post-operative physical therapy is an essential component of the trochleoplasty treatment plan. Not only with physical therapy help minimize the risks of complications like stiffness, but the therapist is an important part of the care team helping patients regain their strength and function after surgery.

    In addition to regaining motion, therapy will help you work on higher-level strengthening and agility training. We welcome all of our patients to our therapy facility, but for those who live far away, your doctor can help you find the right rehab team in your area.

  • For highly active patients, how will pediatric trochleoplasty surgery change their training and ability to compete?

    There are several reports in the literature of patients getting back to their previous level of activity or even being able to be more active after a trochleoplasty. There is no guarantee that this can be the case for any given patient but this has been observed in multiple peer reviewed reports for patients undergoing trochleoplasty.

    • For all patients, consistent physical therapy that follows their rehabilitation team's plan is the best way to return to activities quickly and safely.
    • For patients involved in sports, Children’s Health Andrews Institute is one of the best places in the country for sports medicine orthopedic care. We are committed to getting patients back to their favorite sports and activities, safely and stronger than they were before their injury.

  • How long does it take to bend your knee after pediatric trochleoplasty surgery?

    You can bend your knee almost immediately after the procedure. It might be painful at first, but bending and moving your knee will actually help you heal and recover.

  • How common is trochlear dysplasia?

    Trochlear dysplasia is likely more common than we realize but it generally affects a small percentage of the population. This likely means that there are many people with more mild forms of trochlear dysplasia that never develop problems from it.