Impact of Patellar Thickness in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Clinical and Functional Outcomes and early Complications
Abstract
Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is effective in restoring function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Restoration of the native patellar thickness is a critical aspect, but there is no consensus regarding the optimal thickness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of patellar thickness on clinical and functional outcomes, radiological findings, complications, and revision rates in patients undergoing primary TKA. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who under- went TKA for primary osteoarthritis, with patellar resurfacing, and a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Recorded data included age, sex, body mass index, alignment, preoperative and postoperative patellar thickness, anterior knee pain, Knee Society Score (KSS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, complication rates, and revision rates. Results: The series included 44 patients (mean age, 70.4 ± 10.8 years), all treated with the same prosthesis model. KSS, VAS, and anterior knee pain scores improved signifi- cantly. No significant differences were found between preoperative and postoperative patellar thickness (22.6 ± 2.9 mm vs. 22.0 ± 1.5 mm; p = 0.09). Postoperatively, 15.9% of patients had the same thickness as before surgery, while differences of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm were observed in 45.5%, 29.5%, and 9.1% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Patellar thickness did not significantly influence clinical or functional scores, complication rates, or revision rates following primary TKA.Downloads
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