Hello. Im a 32 year old male. I had a total knee replacement 4 weeks ago due to a long history of PVNS. I slipped and over-stretched the joint over the weekend. Just saw my doctor and he said I had torn the medial patellar retinaculum. He advised for me to continue PT and hopefully it will heal. If it tears more and the patella ends up being dislocated then he said surgery would be necessary. Whats your opinion and has this happened to anyone else?
Hi, thank-you for providing the brief history of you. Yes, with physical therapy you can regain the stability of the medial patellar retinaculum. As you had a TKR you maximum ligaments from the knee joints has been removed as it was all worn out. Now with the knee implant present you have a different biomechanics and the stress is applied on the medical patellar retinaculum. Performing knee strengthening exercises, knee extension maneuver should give you better stability Also try walking reverse with support as it will improve the joint locking mechanism. As most patients with TKR face such issues and can be treated well with PT. In my clinical practice I see cases with similar complaints, and they respond well to PTRegardsJay In Chat Doctor.