Patellar dislocations: Treatment options and outcomes .

Discussion around Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ patellar dislocation has highlighted the broader debate over operative versus conservative care. Surgery, often involving MPFL reconstruction, lowers redislocation risk but carries a recovery timeline measured in months—an unattractive option mid-season. Conservative care offers a much faster return, often within weeks, though with a higher risk of recurrence, especially in athletes with predisposing anatomy. Expert opinions emphasize individualized decisions based on imaging, stability, season timing, and long-term risk, noting that many first-time dislocators can return with rehab and bracing, while recurrent or structurally vulnerable cases may shift management toward surgery.