Patellar reshaping versus resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty — Results of a randomized prospective trial at a minimum of 7years’ follow-up

To compare the results of primary total knee arthroplasty with patellar reshaping or resurfacing.

One hundred thirty-three patients were randomized into patellar reshaping group and patellar resurfacing group. Patellar reshaping includes resecting the partial lateral facet of the patella and the osteophytes surrounding the patella, trimming the patella to match the trochlea of the femoral component. The minimum follow-up time was 7 years. The outcome was measured by anterior knee pain rate, Knee Society clinical score, and radiographs.

Eight patients in the reshaping group (12.5%) and 10 patients in the resurfacing group (14.7%) complained of anterior knee pain ( P = 0.712). Meanwhile, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of total Knee Society score, Knee Society pain score, Knee Society function score, as well as anterior knee pain rate.

With the numbers available, there was no significant difference between the groups treated with patellar reshaping or patellar resurfacing with regard to the KSS, anterior knee pain rate and radiographs. We prefer reshaping the patella to resurfacing the patella because the former preserves sufficient patellar bone stock and can easily be converted to patellar replacement if patients complain of recurrent anterior knee pain.