Clin Orthop Surg.  2014 Dec;6(4):373-378. 10.4055/cios.2014.6.4.373.

Patella Resurfacing during Total Knee Arthroplasty: Have We Got the Issue Covered?

• Sandiford
• Alao U
• Salamut W
• Weitzel S
• Skinner JA

• KMID: 1794723
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2014.6.4.373

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Management of the patella during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. Multiple studies have examined mechanical and clinical results of TKA with native and resurfaced patellae with no clear consensus.
METHODS
We surveyed a large cohort of consultant surgeons in a questionnaire based study in order to assess the indications for patella resurfacing and to correlate practice with degree of specialization, experience and volume of procedures performed.
RESULTS
Six hundred and nineteen surgeons were included. The main indication for patella resurfacing was patellofemoral arthritis. The ratio of those who always:sometimes:never resurfaced was 1:2:1 irrespective of experience or volume performed. There was no difference between knee specialists and non-specialists (p = 0.977) or between high and lower volume surgeons (p = 0.826). Senior and high volume surgeons tended to always resurface.
CONCLUSIONS
The majority of surgeons only sometimes resurfaced the patella. The number who always and never resurfaced were similar. There was a tendency for more experienced and high volume surgeons to always resurface.

Keyword

Patella; Resurfacing; Knee; Arthroplasty

MeSH Terms

Arthritis/*surgery
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/*methods/statistics & numerical data
Cohort Studies
Great Britain/epidemiology
Humans
Knee Joint/*surgery
Orthopedics/*statistics & numerical data
Patella/*surgery
Patellofemoral Joint/surgery
Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Questionnaire used for this study.

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  Fig. 2 Overall results.

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  Fig. 3 Indications for patella resurfacing. RA: rheumatoid arthritis, OA: osteoarthritis, PFJ OA: patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis.

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  Fig. 4 Practice based on specialist interest.

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  Fig. 5 Practice based on volume of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed annually.

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  Fig. 6 Practice based on experience.

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