An estimated 25% of all knee complaints in sports medicine clinics are related to the patellofemoral joint, and patellar instability represents a common complaint among young athletic cohorts. 1 Patellar instability, which includes both subluxation and complete patellofemoral dislocation, com-prises~2 to 3% of all knee injuries. 2 However, the etiology of patellofemoral instability is multifactorial. Proposed risk factors including history of prior patellar dislocation, young age, female gender, family history of patellofemoral instability, aberrant osseous architecture (patella alta, trochlea dysplasia, increased tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance), soft tissue factors (joint hypermobility, medial patellofemoral ligament disruption, weakened vastus medialis), and limb malalignment. Furthermore the sequelae of patellofemoral instability are well documented, with recurrent dislocation rates between 15 and 50% 3-5 and other long-term complaints Keywords ► patella ► dislocation ► patellofemoral ► instability ► epidemiology