Medial Quadriceps Tendon Femoral Ligament Reconstruction Technique and Surgical Anatomy

Abstract

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction risks patellar fracture with the osseous violation necessary for patellar attachment. Anatomic studies identify an entire medial patellofemoral complex of structures responsible for medial restraint to patellar lateral instability. One specific component of this complex is the medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament (MQTFL). This note presents the technique, pearls and pitfalls, and critical surgical anatomy necessary for successful MQTFL reconstruction—a treatment strategy for patellar instability with no increased risk for patellar fracture. An autograft hamstring tendon or allograft tendon is fixed to the anatomically identified femoral origin and passed deep to the vastus medialis obliquus to then weave around the distal medial quadriceps tendon. This simulates the native anatomic interdigitation of the MQTFL with the quadriceps tendon and provides a stable restraint to prevent lateral patellar subluxation or dislocation.