A comparison of patella resurfacing versus retention in total knee arthroplasty for patient satisfaction and patellar crepitus after surgery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patellar crepitus after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is not uncommon. Patella resurfacing or retention in total knee arthroplasty remains controversial. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy of patellar resurfacing on the incidence of patellar crepitus and to investigate the clinical outcomes and of patients’ satisfaction who underwent patellar retention or resurfacing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 2014 to February 2017, 73 knees from 63 patients were randomized to receive patellar resurfacing or nonresurfacing total knee arthroplasty by one surgeon. Evaluation of 29 knees in resurfaced group and 44 knees retain their native patella were performed preoperatively and in the average follow‐up period of 8.68 months using the Knee Society Score (KSS), KSS Functional and KOOS. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between two groups in patient satisfaction, Knee Society clinical rating scores and KOOS and these scores shows improvement for both groups in follow up period. Patella crepitus were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, No evidence was found to suggest patellar resurfacing in order to decrease patellar crepitus or affect the clinical outcome of a total knee arthroplasty.