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J Knee Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2796-8441
Original Article

Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction with Quadriceps Tendon Autograft and Double Bundle Semitendinosus Tendon Autograft: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Authors

  • Ozan Altun 

    1   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Çankırı State Hospital, Çankırı, Turkey

  • Yilmaz Ergisi 

    2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Karabuk University Faculty of Medicine, Karabuk, Turkey

  • Uygar Dasar 

    2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Karabuk University Faculty of Medicine, Karabuk, Turkey

  • Ulas Can Kolac 

    3   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

  • Erdi Ozdemir 

    3   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Funding Information No funding was received. The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
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Abstract

Patellar dislocations often result in damage to the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), a key stabilizer preventing lateral patellar translation. Various reconstruction techniques, including semitendinosus (ST) and quadriceps tendon (QT) autografts, have been developed to restore stability, with QT emerging as a promising option due to lower risk of complications. We aimed to compare the functional outcomes of patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction using double bundle ST autograft and those who underwent reconstruction using partial QT autograft. Patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction at our institution between January 2018 and January 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria were patients with a history of at least two patellar dislocations, a follow-up period of more than 24 months, positive preoperative patellar apprehension, traumatic dislocations, and no prior surgical history on the same knee. Two groups were formed based on the used graft type for reconstruction: a partial QT and ST groups. At the final follow-up, visual analog scale (VAS), Kujala patellofemoral pain score, Lysholm knee score, Tegner activity index, IKDC score, and Crosby-Insall grading system parameters were evaluated. A total of 40 patients (23 QT, 17 ST) were included. Based on the Crosby-Insall grading system, the QT group had 17 excellent, 5 good, and 1 poor result, while the ST group had 8 excellent, 7 good, and 2 poor results (p = 0.215). Mean scores for QT versus ST were as follows: Kujala 91.4 ± 7.1 versus 88.4 ± 10.0 (p = 0.401), Lysholm 92.8 ± 7.5 versus 90.2 ± 10.4 (p = 0.464), IKDC 91.3 ± 6.1 versus 87.5 ± 12.1 (p = 0.725), Tegner 6.8 ± 1.2 versus 6.4 ± 1.5 (p = 0.516), and VAS 0.2 ± 0.5 versus 0.4 ± 1.0 (p = 0.935). The functional outcomes of reconstruction techniques using double bundle ST and partial QT autografts were both successful. Given the potential complications of ST technique, we believe partial QT could be a good alternative in MPFL reconstruction. Level of evidence was retrospective cohort study, level 3.

Keywords

patella - dislocation - quadriceps tendon - hamstring tendon - instability

Data Availability Statement

The data and materials that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, E.O., upon reasonable request.


Contributors' Statement

O.A., Y.E., and U.D.: data collection and analysis; U.C.K. and E.O.: wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the study conception and design. All authors participated in the reviewing and editing of the manuscript before submission. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.


Ethical Approval

IRB statement: This study was approved by the local ethics committee of Karabuk University (no. 2024/1849).


Informed Consent

Patients gave written informed consent for participation in the study.


The authors affirm that patients gave written informed consent for the publication of the study.




Publication History

Received: 18 May 2025

Accepted: 24 January 2026

Article published online:
06 February 2026

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