Retropatellar contact characteristics in total knee arthroplasty with and without patellar resurfacing

Total knee replacement with and without patellar resurfacing was performed in 6 cadaver specimens. The contact pressure and contact area between femur and patella was measured at 60 degrees of flexion. In comparison to specimens without resurfacing the specimens with small size resurfacing showed a significant decrease in contact area, whereas average and maximum pressure were unchanged. In specimens with medium size resurfacing, contact area and average pressure increased slightly, whereas maximum pressure increased significantly. Patellar resurfacing did not change the retropatellar pressure, but was associated with reduced contact area.