BACKGROUND: Over the long term, acute patellar dislocations can result in patellar instability, with high recurrence rates after nonoperative treatment. PURPOSE: To compare the results of operative (reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL)) versus nonoperative treatment of primary patellar dislocation. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; level of evidence, 1. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (41 knees) (mean age 24.2 years; range 12 to 38 years) with acute patellar dislocation were randomized into 2 groups. One group was treated nonoperatively with immobilization and physiotherapy, the other was treated surgically with MPFL reconstruction; both groups were evaluated with minimum follow-up of 2 years. The Kujala questionnaire was applied to assess pain and quality of life, and recurrence was evaluated. Pearson Chi2 or Fisher exact test was used in the statistical evaluation. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that the mean Kujala score was significantly lower in the nonoperative group (70.8), when compared with the mean value of the surgical group (88.9; p = 0.001). The surgical group presented a higher percentage of "good/excellent" results (71.43%) on the Kujala score when compared with the nonoperative group (25.0%; p = 0.003). The nonoperative group presented a large number of recurrences and subluxations (7 patients; 35% of cases), whereas there were no reports of recurrences or subluxations in the surgical group. CONCLUSION: Treatment with MPFL reconstruction using the patellar tendon produced better results, based on the analyses of posttreatment recurrences and the better final results of the Kujala questionnaire after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years.

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