title: What Is the Role for Patelloplasty With Gullwing Osteotomy in Revision TKA?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Management of the patella in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is challenging as a result of the deficient or unusable bone stock for patellar resurfacing that is frequently encountered. Options proposed in this setting include various patelloplasty procedures, patellectomy, and special patellar components. We sought to better define the role and results of one patelloplasty procedure, the gullwing osteotomy, used in revision TKA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) How much improvement in the outcome measures of range of motion and Knee Society scores was seen after revision TKA with a gullwing osteotomy? (2) What are the radiographic results of this osteotomy as judged by patellar healing and patellar tracking? (3) What complications are associated with the gullwing osteotomy in revision TKA?
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2003 and July 2012, we used a gullwing osteotomy on patients undergoing revision TKA (n = 238) in which the patellar remnant was avascular or less than 12 mm thick. This uncommon procedure was used in 17 of 115 (15%) of the patellae revised during this time. We performed manual chart reviews on all patients to collect preoperative and postoperative range of motion and Knee Society scores as well as radiographic review at last followup to assess patellar healing and tracking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with at least 2 years of followup, the preoperative range of motion was a median -7.5° of extension (interquartile range [IQR], -15°-0°) and 90° of flexion (IQR, 90°-100°). Postoperative extension improved to 0° (IQR, 0°-0°; p = 0.015). With the numbers available, median flexion arc did not change at last followup (110°; IQR, 95°-120°; p = 0.674). The Knee Society score improved from a combined (clinical + functional) mean of 86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 56-116) preoperatively to 142 (95% CI, 121-163; p < 0.001) postoperatively. Radiographically, 12 of 13 patients demonstrated healing of the osteotomy with osseous union and one patient healed with a fibrous union. Nine of the 10 patients with at least 2 years of followup had a centrally tracking gullwing osteotomized patella at last followup. One patient, with just over 3 years of followup, exhibited lateral subluxation without evidence of fracture. Three of the 10 patients with greater than 2 years of followup developed recurrent infections. One patient had avascular necrosis with fragmentation of the patella at 4 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patellar bone stock is often compromised in revision TKA, leaving the surgeon with very few options for reconstruction. Using this technique, we found acceptable function, no aseptic rerevisions for patellofemoral complications, nine of 10 of patellae tracking within the trochlear groove, and radiographic healing of the majority of the osteotomies. The gullwing osteotomy may be considered an option in these difficult revisions, but further studies with more complete followup are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gililland
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Presley
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pelt
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA. chris.peters@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome