How long does MPFL reconstruction take to work for patellar dislocation?

The medial patellofemoral ligament helps guide the kneecap and resist sideways movement. Reconstruction creates a replacement ligament, but the surrounding tissues still need to heal and the knee must relearn controlled movement. Early stiffness, swelling and quadriceps inhibition can make the knee feel unreliable even while the repair is protected.

Rehabilitation usually progresses from protecting the reconstruction and regaining comfortable motion to strengthening the thigh, improving balance and practising sport-specific control. The pace depends on associated cartilage or bone injuries, the surgical plan and your examination.

Use the brace, crutches and weight-bearing instructions given to you. Complete the prescribed exercises without forcing a painful range, manage swelling as advised, and attend physiotherapy reviews. Avoid pivoting, jumping and sudden direction changes until your surgeon or physiotherapist has tested strength and control. A gradual programme is safer than judging readiness by pain alone.

Call your surgical team for increasing swelling, wound drainage, fever, calf pain, persistent numbness, or difficulty following the movement plan. Seek urgent assessment for severe calf swelling or chest symptoms. Report a new kneecap shift, a sudden pop with loss of function, or rapidly increasing pain promptly.

Ask when your brace and crutches can change, what motion target is appropriate, how quadriceps strength will be tested, and which criteria must be met before running, jumping or returning to sport.