title: Patella resurfacing during total knee arthroplasty: have we got the issue covered?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Management of the patella during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. Multiple studies have examined mechanical and clinical results of TKA with native and resurfaced patellae with no clear consensus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed a large cohort of consultant surgeons in a questionnaire based study in order to assess the indications for patella resurfacing and to correlate practice with degree of specialization, experience and volume of procedures performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and nineteen surgeons were included. The main indication for patella resurfacing was patellofemoral arthritis. The ratio of those who always:sometimes:never resurfaced was 1:2:1 irrespective of experience or volume performed. There was no difference between knee specialists and non-specialists (p = 0.977) or between high and lower volume surgeons (p = 0.826). Senior and high volume surgeons tended to always resurface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of surgeons only sometimes resurfaced the patella. The number who always and never resurfaced were similar. There was a tendency for more experienced and high volume surgeons to always resurface.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, UK.
authors.forename: Nemandra A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sandiford
authors.affiliation: Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, UK.
authors.forename: Uthman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Alao
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, UK.
authors.forename: Wazirl
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salamut
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, UK.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weitzel
authors.affiliation: The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery*; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Arthroplasty; Knee; Patella; Resurfacing