AGE IN YEARS AT ONSET

Despite the many methods of surgical treatment that have been described for the relief of recurrent dislocation of the patella, there is still no general agreement on its surgical management, and few long-term follow-up studies have been reported. The present study was undertaken to investigate the natural history of the condition, and to assess the value of some of the operations in current use, and also to assess in particular the long-term results of patellectomy and transplant of the tibial tubercle. CLINICAL MATERIAL Case notes were studied from hospitals in Liverpool, Warrington, Preston and Oswestry. The criteria for inclusion-adequate records and a follow-up period of at least a year-were satisfied in operations on ninety knees in seventy-six patients, and in a further sixteen knees not subjected to operation. Fifty-four patients were seen personally; the remainder were assessed from their case notes and from replies to questionnaires. The average follow-up period was seven years and the longest thirty years. The age of onset of the dislocations i