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Patellar resurfacing complications in total knee arthroplasty
Alfredo Schiavone Panni1, Simone Cerciello, Chiara Del Regno
1Department of Medicine, Orthopaedic Clinic, Molise University, Via de Sanctis 1, 00168, Campobasso, Italy.
International Orthopaedics
|December 24, 2013
Summary
Patellar resurfacing during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) shows a 7% complication rate, including anterior knee pain and maltracking. While re-operation risk is lower, severe complications can occur.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- The optimal management of the patella in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains a subject of debate.
- Patellar retention may increase anterior knee pain, while patellar replacement carries risks of severe complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of TKA with patellar resurfacing.
- To assess the complication rates and patient satisfaction following patellar resurfacing in TKA.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1,600 consecutive TKAs, with detailed review of 310 patients who underwent patellar replacement.
- Clinical and imaging follow-up (average 96 months) including Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores and radiographic assessment.
Main Results:
- A total of 280 patients were available for final analysis.
- The overall rate of patellofemoral complications was 7%, including anterior knee pain (13 patients) and symptomatic maltracking (5 patients).
- One case of patellar component loosening was reported.
Conclusions:
- Patellar resurfacing in TKA is associated with a manageable complication rate, aligning with existing literature.
- While patellar resurfacing may reduce re-operation rates, potential severe complications necessitate careful consideration.
