Comparison between Patellar Resurfacing and Retention in Total Knee Arthroplasty Regarding the Postoperative Satisfaction of Patients and Patellar Crepitus

Patellar crepitus after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is not uncommon. The choice between patellar resurfacing or retention in TKA has remained controversial. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the impact of patellar resurfacing on the incidence of patellar crepitus. In addition, we compared the clinical outcomes and satisfaction between the patients who underwent patellar retention or resurfacing. A total of 63 patients randomly received patellar resurfacing or non-resurfacing TKA by one surgeon at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran during May 2014-February 2017. Finally, 29 patients in the resurfaced group and 44 subjects with retained patella were evaluated pre-op and in an average follow-up period of 8.68 months using the clinical Knee Society Score (KSS), functional KSS, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Our findings demonstrated no significant difference between the two groups regarding the satisfaction of patients, KSS, and KOOS. It was shown that the latter scores improved in both groups in the follow-up period. Nonetheless, patellar crepitus was not statistically different between the two groups. According to the results of the present study, patellar resurfacing did not lead to decreased patellar crepitus or enhanced clinical outcomes of TKA.