Adding Patella Resurfacing After Circumpatellar Electrocautery Did Not Improve the Clinical Outcome in Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty in Chinese Population: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract

Background: In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), handling of the patella surface is still quite controversial. We carried out a prospective randomized study to compare circumpatellar electrocautery plus patella resurfacing vs circumpatellar electrocautery only in the single-staged bilateral TKA in Chinese population.

Methods: One hundred five patients diagnosed with late-staged osteoarthritis who received single-staged bilateral TKA were screened and 53 patients were included. All patients received the same posterior cruciate-stabilizing total knee prostheses. Patients were randomized to receive circumpatellar electrocautery plus patellar resurfacing or circumpatellar electrocautery only for the first TKA, and the second knee received the opposite treatment. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years.

Results: No differences were found with regard to Knee Society Score, Feller score, anterior knee pain, and revision rates. Fifty-two percent of patients had no preference with regard to pain and function, 27% of patients preferred the resurfacing plus circumpatellar electrocautery knee while 21% of the patients preferred the circumpatellar electrocautery only knee. The Insall-Salvati index and the patella tilt were a little smaller in the resurfacing group. One patient (2.1%) in the circumpatellar electrocautery group underwent a patella resurfacing revision for severe anterior knee pain and patella subluxation.

Conclusion: Equivalent clinical results for circumpatellar electrocautery plus resurfacing and circumpatellar electrocautery alone of the patella in TKA were demonstrated in selective Chinese population with thick enough patella.

Keywords: anterior knee pain; circumpatellar electrocautery; patella denervation; patella resurfacing; total knee arthroplasty.