Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
Three-Dimensional Preoperative Virtual Planning in Derotational Proximal Femoral Osteotomy
Published on: February 17, 2023
Three dimensional CT-based virtual patellar resection in female patients undergoing total knee replacement: a
Do Young Park1, Hyung-Min Ji, Kyu-Sung Kwak
1Division of Arthroplasty, Department of Orthopaedics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Background:
Due to its small size, variable shape, and lack of distinct anatomical landmarks, osteoarthritic knees make a precise patellar resection extremely difficult.
Methods:
We performed virtual patellar resection with digital software using three dimensional computed tomography scans of knees from 49 patients who underwent primary total knee replacement at our hospital. We compared 2 commonly used resection methods, the tendon method (TM) and the subchondral method, to determine an ideal resection plane with respect to the symmetry and thickness of the patellar remnant.
Results:
The TM gave a thicker resected patella, and a less oval cut surface shape, which gives better coverage for a domed prosthesis. Both methods, however, gave a symmetric resection both superior-inferiorly, as well as mediolaterally.
Conclusions:
Although TM appears statistically better with respect to the thickness and cut surface shape, only further intraoperative studies with long-term clinical follow-up may provide us with the most appropriate patellar resection method.
