MPFL Reconstruction 101: What the Surgery Involves and Who Needs It
A kneecap dislocation is startling. The knee gives way, the patella (kneecap) slips out of its groove, and it often pops back on its own or needs to be put back by a medical professional. For many people it happens once and never again. For others it keeps recurring, and that is where MPFL reconstruction often comes into the conversation. This guide covers what the MPFL is, who may need surgery, what the procedure involves, and what recovery typically looks like. What Is the MPFL? The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is a thin band of tissue on the inner side of the knee. It connects the kneecap to the thigh bone (femur). Its main job is to keep the patella tracking in the center of its groove, called the trochlea, as the knee bends and straightens. Of the structures that stabilize the kneecap, the MPFL is the main restraint against the patella sliding outward, especially in the first 20 to 30 degrees of knee bending. When the kneecap dislocates, the MPFL is almost always stretch...