Lateral patellar burnishing in total knee arthroplasty following medialization of the patellar button

This case report describes a total knee revision necessitated by painful contact between the exposed lateral facet of the patella and the femoral component. Pain was resolved following repositioning and enlarging the patellar component. The clinical significance of this report is that the contemporary practice of medializing the patellar component to improve patellar tracking should be performed in moderation to avoid overexposure of the lateral patella. In the setting of persistent anterior knee pain following total knee arthroplasty, the etiology of the pain may be identified as contact between the patellar and femoral component on the sunrise radiograph.