Orthopaedic crossfire--All patellae should be resurfaced during primary total knee arthroplasty: in the affirmative.

Abstract

Patients with inflammatory arthritis, crystalline deposition disease, or severe patellofemoral arthritis have superior functional results with patellar resurfacing as compared with patellar retention. The only remaining issue is whether there is any advantage to resurfacing or retention in patients with osteoarthritic knees in the absence of severe patellofemoral arthritis. Although the answer is still unclear from available prospective randomized clinical trials, the evidence leans toward routine resurfacing of the patella during primary total knee arthroplasty in osteoarthritic knees too. Evidence exists that the results of patellar retention in osteoarthritic knees deteriorate with longer follow-up study. Long-term follow-up evaluations of available prospective clinical trials will be needed to assess this controversy more definitively.