Lateral Release Surgery - do I or don't I?

by Andrea
(Connecticut)

I am scheduled to have lateral release surgery and possible chondroplasty next week and now I am having second thoughts after all of the bad outcomes I have been reading about. The x-rays show that I have bilateral patellar tilt in both knees but I have opted for one knee at a time. I have also gone through 6 weeks or so of physical therapy to stretch out certain muscles and tighten others and they still cannot get my knee cap to move freely.

When I run or walk for long distances I have a very uncomfortable almost floating knee feeling and I limp. I have pain also but not all that extreme. Also when I do stairs I compensate because it is uncomfortable.

So I guess what I am trying to figure out is do I try a different physical therapist and cancel my surgery and see if there is anything they can do for me or do I move ahead with the surgery? Can physical therapy without surgery really help me? If I do not do either can things get worse?

I have crackling and awful noises in each knee which I am thinking is from the tilt and it is breaking down the cartilage.

HELP.

I am really scared about getting surgery and being worse off. I want to get back to exercising so badly.

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Lateral Release Surgery - do I or don't I?

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Aug 16, 2008
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you have to decide what is best for you
by: Bart - SII

Hi Andrea - your worries are normal, and part of everyones thoughts prior to knee surgery.

It is true, there are a lot of bad results after a lateral release surgery - and you can find them all over the internet - but, you have to remember that this procedure is sometimes used as a last resort to treat patella femoral syndromes - when everything else has failed. It has been shown through research that the best results for this surgery are when it is used to treat patellar tilt. In your case, this is what you are suffering from. So, you should have a good chance for a good outcome.

Patella femoral syndrome is a very complex problem, with lots of different factors. Before surgery you need to make sure you have exhausted all of your other options. I posted on this recently to another visitor.

6 weeks of therapy, if it addresses all of the possible factors causing your knee pain, then it is time to consider it. But, if your 6 weeks of therapy was focused on leg lifts, quad sets, hamstring stretching, and doing squats squeezing a ball between your knees, then you may want to find another therapist with a more progressive approach and postpone the surgery.

The popping and cracking you are having is probably due to the lateral tilt, and the softening of the cartilage over time - which means that the surgery would help to alleviate some of that by smoothing out the rough spots in the cartilage - and the release could help the patella to track better - but all of that is for not if your rehab hasn't addressed other factors like mobility, strength (of the hips and core), balance, and neuromuscular control.

It is a difficult decision, and not one to be taken lightly. I hope some of my information has helped.

Comment back with other questions.

Bart

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Aug 16, 2008
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Submitted by: Bart - SII

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Hi Andrea - your worries are normal, and part of everyones thoughts prior to knee surgery. It is true, there are a lot of bad results after a lateral release surgery - and you can find them all over the internet - but, you have to remember that this procedure is sometimes used as a last resort to treat patella femoral syndromes - when everything else has failed. It has been shown through research that the best results for this surgery are when it is used to treat patellar tilt. In your case, this is what you are suffering from. So, you should have a good chance for a good outcome. Patella femoral syndrome is a very complex problem, with lots of different factors. Before surgery you need to make sure you have exhausted all of your other options. I <a href="http://www.sports-injury-info.com/when-is-it-time-to-consider-surgery-patellafemoral.html" target="_blank">posted on this recently</a> to another visitor. 6 weeks of therapy, if it addresses all of the possible factors causing your knee pain, then it is time to consider it. But, if your 6 weeks of therapy was focused on leg lifts, quad sets, hamstring stretching, and doing squats squeezing a ball between your knees, then you may want to find another therapist with a more progressive approach and postpone the surgery. The popping and cracking you are having is probably due to the lateral tilt, and the softening of the cartilage over time - which means that the surgery would help to alleviate some of that by smoothing out the rough spots in the cartilage - and the release could help the patella to track better - but all of that is for not if your rehab hasn't addressed other factors like mobility, strength (of the hips and core), balance, and neuromuscular control. It is a difficult decision, and not one to be taken lightly. I hope some of my information has helped. Comment back with other questions. Bart

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Oct 15, 2008
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Surgery?
by: Anonymous

Just curious after reading your post...did you proceed with the surgery? If so, how are you doing?

I am considering the same surgery and would like to hear a positive outcome.

Oct 27, 2008
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Surgery
by: Jessica

I had this surgery on both of my knee's when i was 15. I am now currently 17 and I am so glad i had the surgery. Since my recovery I haven't had pain in them since I would recomment this.

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Lateral Release Surgery - do I or don't I?

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Lateral Release Surgery - do I or don't I?