[Patella resurfacing and patellofemoral resurfacing]

Since 1983 isolated polyethylene patellar prosthesis was used for patella resurfacing of 19 patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis. After an average of 44.9 months follow-up, the treatment was found to be not as satisfactory as earlier trials. The main reason was the wide erosion of femoral condyle caused by the polyethylene patella. To overcome this shortness, a new type of patellofemoral prosthesis was designed by the authors, which was named Y-L-Q. From January, 1991 to November, 1993, this prosthesis was used to treat 16 knees of 13 patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Most of those patients improved both symptomatically and functionally. The good to excellent results rate was 87.5% (14/16 knees) at the time of an average 10 month follow-up. The early results of our experience with patellofemoral resurfacing are encouraging, and extended follow-ups are in progress.