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Evidence summaries

Patellar Resurfacing in Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis

Resurfacing of the patella in total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis may reduce reoperation rates due to patellofemoral problems but may not reduce knee pain. Level of evidence: "C"

A systematic review 1 including 3 RCTs with a total of 302 knees was abstracted in DARE. For the outcome of anterior knee pain (2 studies), one RCT found higher rates of pain with no resurfacing than with resurfacing (24% vs. 0%), whereas the other study found similar rates of pain in both groups (around 18%). Reoperation for patellofemoral problems was more likely in the unresurfaced group than in the resurfaced group (pooled OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.48; 3 studies). The overall rates for reoperation were 0.7% and 11% in the surfaced and unresurfaced groups, respectively. One RCT reported one revision in the resurfaced group and three in the unresurfaced group.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by sparse data and heterogeneity.

    References

    • Forster MC. Patellar resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Knee 2004 Dec;11(6):427-30. [PubMed] [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords