Treating complications of operative management for patellofemoral pain

This review paper focuses on specific complications related to patellofemoral surgery performed to manage patellofemoral pain. The three most serious complications after surgery to treat anterior knee pain (AKP) are iatrogenic medial patellar instability and multidirectional patellar instability, patella infera (or patella baja), and patellofemoral osteoarthritis. The goals of this paper are to provide best practices for avoiding complications of patellofemoral surgery, to give diagnostic advice for evaluating the failed patellofemoral surgery patient, and to present operative salvage procedures to treat these cases.