[Comparison of functional outcome in implantation of Natural Knee knee prostheses with and without patellar resurfacing].
OBJECTIVE
Despite the great progress in knee arthroplasty made within the previous decade the problem of patellar resurfacing is still unsolved.


METHODS
In a retrospective matched-pairs study in 62 patients with Natural Knee endoprostheses including one group with and another without patella resurfacing were compared. Results were assessed according to the American Knee Society Score and the patients subjective assessments.


RESULTS
At an average follow-up time 2 years there were no differences in the clinical findings and the patients subjective opinions between both patient groups. However, patients with rheumatoid arthritis and patella resurfacing showed significantly better results in both categories than those rheumatoid patients without patella resurfacing.


CONCLUSIONS
Summing our results up we cannot give a general advise towards the use of patella resurfacing in knee replacements. In patients with severe arthrosis of the femoro-patellar joint and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, however, the patella replacement is considered to be the therapy of choice at our department.
Liebau
C
C
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Magdeburg.
Pap
G
G
Nebelung
W
W
Merk
H
H
Neumann
H W
HW
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome