Adolescents with prior patellar dislocation report affected quality of life and function, as measured using the Banff Patella Instability Instrument, Kujala and EQ-5D-5L index scores.

PURPOSE: We aimed to establish patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) reference data for a cohort of patients with prior patellar dislocation without previous knee surgery.

METHODS

All inhabitants of the Faroe Islands aged 15-19 years were sent an online survey via secure email to establish a national cohort. They were asked to answer questions regarding demographics, whether they had prior patellar dislocation and to complete the PROMs: the Banff Patella Instability Instrument (BPII), Kujala, Marx activity and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires. Participants who had undergone knee surgery were excluded. Participants who had prior patellar dislocation underwent radiographic examinations to diagnose trochlear dysplasia. The study included three cohorts: the general population, prior patellar dislocation and prior patellar dislocation and trochlear dysplasia cohorts.

RESULTS

Of the 3749 individuals contacted, 1119 completed the survey and responded to at least one PROM. Of these, 102 reported a history of patellar dislocation and 57 of them had trochlear dysplasia. All PROMs, except the Marx score, reflected a worse quality of life and function after patellar dislocation than in the general population cohort; this was most pronounced in the BPII. The percentage of people experiencing problems in EQ-5D-5L dimensions was higher in the patellar dislocation and trochlear dysplasia cohorts than in the general population cohort in all EQ-5D-5L domains, except anxiety/depression.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents who had patellar dislocation reported reduced quality of life and function according to the BPII, Kujala and EQ-5D-5L index values, as well as all EQ-5D-5L domains, except for anxiety/depression. However, their activity levels remained high.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.