Inside Pediatrics Spring/Summer 2026

orthopedic surgeons also have to manage challenges such as small bones and growth plates, “which we don't want to impede or create any problems with, because it could be detrimental toward a kid’s growth,” Williams explained. Williams and his team developed the modified procedure to address all of these challenges. It allows them to use small implants that are stitch based or suture-based and don’t require a lot of drilling. It also allows surgeons to spare the growth plate and balance the soft tissues. limited fashion by surgeons in North America and abroad, Williams says. To perform the procedure, the surgery team creates holes in the bones to attach the kneecap to the inside of the femur bone via either an allograft or autograft tissue source. Williams and his team use smaller instrumentation and grafts for this procedure to spare the growth plate and account for the smaller anatomy. “The surgical procedure is designed to grow with the patient,” he said. HOW IT WORKS MPFL reconstruction in young adolescents is performed in a

Though the team’s procedure is different from others that are available, it’s not experimental, Williams says, because it’s a combination of techniques that are already standard practice. The implants used in this procedure are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

RECOVERY One of the biggest benefits of the new technique is recovery time. “Compared with the bigger anatomy changing surgeries, it’s much improved,” Williams said. With modified MPFL reconstruction, the patient is typically on crutches for only a week or two before they’re able to walk around mostly normally. After that, they wear a brace for up to two months. In many cases, they’re back to playing sports within three or four months, although some may need six months, depending on factors such as age and underlying conditions.

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