title: Excisional arthroplasty for patellar loosening in total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Four thousand two hundred eighty-seven cases of Anatomic Graduated Components total knee replacements with a cemented, single-peg, all-polyethylene patellar component were performed at our institution over the past 15 years. One hundred eighty cases of patellar component loosening were found. Eleven knees (0.3%) in 11 patients required isolated patellar component reoperation. In all cases, the patellar component was excised and not reimplanted. The average follow-up for the 11 patients was 2.2 years. Five had a complete minimum follow-up of 2 years following reoperation. Pain and function were improved. Complications included infection in 3 knees and extensor lag in 1 knee. Because of the complication rate associated with isolated patellar component excision caused by a loose patellar component, we recommend surgical removal of the patellar component only in cases of severe pain and/or prominence of the component.
authors.affiliation: Center for Hip and Knee Surgery, St. Francis Hospital, Mooresville, IN 46158, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berend
authors.forename: Leesa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Harty
authors.forename: Merrill A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stonehouse
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000150:complications; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies