Kneecap dislocation: is early surgery better than rehab?
NCT ID NCT06926699
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests whether early surgery to repair a torn ligament in the knee works better than rest and physical therapy for young people who have dislocated their kneecap for the first time. About 30 patients aged 10-25 will be randomly assigned to either surgery or rehab and followed for one year. The goal is to see which approach reduces repeat dislocations, pain, and knee problems.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) Reconstruction surgery
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that early surgery reduces repeat kneecap dislocations and long-term knee problems compared to rehab alone.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 30 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Surgery also carries risks like infection or stiffness.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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