Total knee arthroplasty and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for knee osteoarthritis with habitual patellar dislocation: a case report.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis and habitual patellar dislocation are clinically common osteoarticular diseases. However, existing literature lacks reports on their co-occurrence and treatment approaches. Thus, we propose a surgical approach that integrates total knee arthroplasty with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, addressing knee osteoarthritis alongside habitual patellar dislocation. Case presentation: A 78-year-old female developed habitual lateral patellar dislocation of the left knee after an accidental fall over 20 years ago. One year prior, she experienced weight-bearing pain in the left knee. Physical examination, full-length lower limb radiography, and computed tomography confirmed a diagnosis of left knee osteoarthritis with habitual patellar dislocation. The patient subsequently underwent total knee arthroplasty combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Conclusion: This case demonstrates notable innovation among similar reports. It may represents an effective treatment, enabling the patient to walk without impediment, with a stable and pain-free knee joint and no significant patellar displacement during flexion. Further case studies are still required to validate the generalizability of this surgical technique.