Lateral Release Surgery

What is Lateral Release Surgery?

When bent, the kneecap moves up and down in the groove at the end of the thigh bone. If the kneecap pulls abnormally to the outside of this groove, it can cause cartilage irritation and pain. Therefore, a lateral release is done to surgically realign a kneecap that has been partially dislocated and provide pain relief to the individual.

Who is a candidate for Lateral Release Surgery?

Patients who have exhausted all non-surgical therapies such as bracing, icing, medication, and physical therapy and still experience pain and pressure from tightening in the tissue outside the kneecap may require lateral release surgery.

What can I expect during the surgery?

The procedure is an arthroscopic surgery performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon will make three small incisions in the knee and then insert an arthroscope, a small tube containing a system of lenses, a small video camera, and a light for viewing.

They will then cut through a tight group of tendons in the kneecap to allow it to move properly into the groove, restoring the alignment. To finish, the orthopaedic surgeon will test the movement of the knee before closing the wound with sutures or staples.

What will recovery be like?

Once you have had the surgery, you will most likely experience pain, stiffness and limited movement in the knee. A pad will be placed on the outer side of the knee to hold the patella in the correct position and prevent it from moving again. In addition, you will be required to wear a knee brace, use crutches and go to physiotherapy. Complete recovery can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months.