Patellar management during total knee arthroplasty: a review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Patellar management during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a controversial topic.
• Surgeons employ three main strategies: always resurface, never resurface, or selectively resurface the patella.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current approaches to patellar management in TKA.
• To highlight the lack of consensus and need for further research.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on patellar management in TKA.
• Discussion of resurfacing options (components, materials, techniques).
• Discussion of non-resurfacing options (denervation, release, patelloplasty).

Main Results:

• Studies comparing patellar resurfacing versus non-resurfacing in TKA yield inconsistent findings.
• Various techniques and components exist for both resurfacing and non-resurfacing approaches.

Conclusions:

• The optimal patellar management strategy in TKA remains unclear.
• Prospective randomized studies are required to determine superior postoperative outcomes.
• Individualized patient assessment is crucial for selecting the best patellar management technique.