title: Evaluation of a minimally aggressive method of patellofemoral osteoarthritis treatment at 10 years minimum follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knee osteoarthritis mainly affecting the lateral facet of the patella, especially in young patients, is a definite challenge to the surgeon. Our purpose was to investigate the long-term outcome of a simple operation such as the partial lateral facetectomy on middle-aged to elderly patients with predominant lateral patellofemoral osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, long-term study of 39 knees (28 females, mean aged at surgery 61yearsold) with a minimum follow-up of 10years was performed. Evaluations included preoperative and postoperative questionnaires, physical examinations, and radiographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main outcomes included the initial anterior pain relief, with higher scores using the Knee Society Score (that improved in 84% of the knees), and the eventual failure of the technique, including percentage of patients that required secondary total knee replacement (30% of the knees).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partial lateral facetectomy aiming to decrease the high pressure in the lateral facet of the patella confirmed frequent pain relief. This surgical procedure being minimally invasive, relatively simple, and effective in selected patients, is a valid early alternative to more complex operations and does not preclude further reconstructive surgery in case of disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Hospital Infanta Sofia, Madrid, Spain; Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Hospital Sur de Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain; IdiPaz-Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: lopezfranco_cot@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Franco
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Murciano-Antón
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernández-Aceñero
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: De Lucas-Villarrubia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: López-Martín
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez-Barrena
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Lateral facetectomy; Osteoarthritis; Patella