Does Patella Alta Influence Trochlear Morphology in Pediatric Patients with Cerebral Palsy? Associations with Age and Functional Status.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patella alta is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP), often resulting from quadriceps spasticity and tendon elongation. In typically developing children, patella alta is linked to trochlear dysplasia and instability. Whether these associations exist in CP, and how they vary with age and functional ability, has not been established.

Purpose

We sought to determine whether patella alta is associated with alterations in trochlear morphology in ambulatory children with CP and to evaluate the influence of age and functional severity.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of pediatric patients under the age of 18 diagnosed with hemiplegic or diplegic CP. We included patients classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to III to en

SUBMITTER: Beltrame G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932131 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature