Determinants of anterior knee pain following total knee replacement: a systematic review

Anterior knee pain (AKP) following total knee replacement (TKR) is both prevalent and clinically relevant. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the peer-reviewed literature, and to identify and assess the different modifiable and non-modifiable determinants that may be associated with the development of AKP in patients following primary TKR.

A systematic computerized database search (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar) was performed in January 2012. The quality of the studies was assessed using the GRADE approach.

A total of 54 articles met the inclusion criteria. Variables that have been researched with regard to the prevalence of AKP include patient and knee-specific characteristics, prosthetic design, operative technique, treatment of the patella, and time of assessment. A weak correlation with AKP was found for specific retained presurgery gait patterns. A weak recommendation can be given for the use of femoral components with a posterior centre of rotation, resection of Hoffa's fat pad, patellar rim electrocautery, and preventing combined component internal rotation. The correlation between postsurgical AKP and the degree of patellar cartilage wear, tibial component bearing strategies, and patellar resurfacing is inconclusive. Due to substantial heterogeneity of the included studies, no meta-analysis was performed.

No single variable is likely to explain the differences in the reported rates of AKP, although variables leading to abnormal patellofemoral joint loading appear to be of special significance.

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