36 patients with recurrent patellar dislocation following initial nonoperative management of primary dislocation were randomized to either operative treatment (Elmslie-Trillat procedure) or nonoperative treatment of the recurrent dislocation. The purpose of this study was to compare mid-term clinical and radiographic results (minimum 2-year follow-up). Clinical outcome measures, including the Knee Society Score and Lysholm score, were reported to not significantly differ between groups at final follow-up. Recurrent instability, either dislocation or subluxation, was documented in one patient treated operatively and five patients treated nonoperatively.