title: Increased bone mineral density in the non-resurfaced patella after total knee arthroplasty: a clinical and densitometric study.
abstract: We report the results of a longitudinal study of 40 patients with osteoarthritis who had primary prosthetic replacement without patellar resurfacing, and were followed at 6 months postoperatively with a densitometric study and clinically at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Densitometric analysis showed a mean preoperative density at the affected knee of 0.69 g/cm(2) (CI: 0.62-0.76), compared to 0.86 g/cm(2) (CI: 0.79-0.93) for the opposite knee (p = 0.002). In our study population, the return to load and motion to the retained patella led to a significant increase in patellar bone density as measured by densitometry studies. This observation correlated with significant improvement in knee functional score.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papalia
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prossomariti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015519:Bone Density; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D010329:Patella / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome