Since the end of 2016 we have enrolled over 2000 operative and non-operative knees with Patellofemoral Instability (PFI) in the first two JUPITER studies. The goal of the JUPITER project as a whole is to increase our knowledge and understanding of Patellofemoral Instability; what are the causes, what treatments are the best to address PFI, how are patients doing long term.
We are excited to announce the next phase of the JUPITER study (JUPITER 4.0 - Risk Factors for Failure of Isolated MPFL reconstruction) for which we have received the AOSSM multicenter grant. We have also received funding from industry, thanks to Seth Sherman. Special thanks to Adam Yanke MD for allowing us to use PatientIQ platform for data collection.
JUPITER 4.0 aims to prospectively enroll a new cohort of 850 consecutive patients with recurrent patellar instability over the next two years. ALL patients would undergo ONLY isolated MPFL reconstruction + lateral release or lengthening, + cartilage restoration procedure, but NO osteotomy (TTO, DFO or Trochleoplasty), regardless of radiographic measurements or anatomic risk factors, unless specific exclusion criteria are met. The goal of JUPITER 4.0 is to determine which patients truly need an osteotomy (cutting or breaking a bone to realign it) and which patients who will do fine with less surgery. We hope to create a treatment algorithm that surgeons can use to systematically identify which patients will benefit from an osteotomy and those who will do fine without one.