title: The effect of retropatellar fat pad excision on patellar tendon contracture and functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Excision of the fat pad is common in total knee arthroplasty to enhance surgical exposure. However, the effect of this has not been clearly established. A retrospective review of 1055 primary total knee arthroplasties was preformed in 720 patients from 1997 to 1998. Regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of excising the fat pad on patellar tendon contracture, range of motion, Knee Society Score, function, and pain scores. Fat pad excision had no significant effect on patellar tendon contracture (P = .4599), range of motion (P = .7361), Knee Society Score (P = .7247), or function scores (P = .6786). Patients whose fat pad had been removed were nearly twice as likely to experience postoperative pain (P = .0005).
authors.affiliation: Joint Replacement Surgeons of Indiana Research Foundation; USA.
authors.forename: Robert Michael
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Meneghini
authors.forename: Jeffery L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pierson
authors.forename: Deren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bagsby
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berend
authors.forename: Merrill A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Meding
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D010329:Patella; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome