Patellar clunk in total knee arthroplasty using modified Sigma posterior stabilized femoral component

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the enhanced PS femoral component design released in 2008 by DePuy. The patellar clunk syndrome has been reported in a significant number of patients following total knee arthroplasty. Design modifications of the implant have been made to reduce the incidence of the patellar clunk, especially in the posterior substituted designs.

130 total knee replacements performed using the enhanced PS femoral components were followed-up with clinical and radiographic evaluations.

Patellar clunk was seen in 3 of the 130 knees (2%). This is much less than the incidence of patellar clunk reported until now.

Removal of the sharp ridge in the intercondylar groove in the newer implant seems to have been effective in reducing the incidence of the patellar clunk. It also indicates that the sharp ridge was the most probable cause of the clunk.