Comparison of Clinical Results between Patellar Resurfacing and Non-resurfacing in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Short Term Evaluation

Background: There is no difference in the functional outcomes 6 months after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for kneeosteoarthritis between patellar resurfacing and non-resurfacing. Thus, we have performed this study to compare theshort-term clinical outcomes of TKA performed with and without the patella resurfacing.Methods: A total of 50 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) were randomized to receive patellar resurfacing(n=24; resurfaced group) or to retain their native patella (n=26; non-resurfaced group) based on envelope selectionand provided informed consent. Disease specific outcomes including Knee Society Score (KSS), Knee SocietyFunction Score (KSKS-F), Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), Western Ontario and McMaster UniversitiesArthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form 36 (SF-36), and functional patella-related activities were measured within sixmonths of follow-up.Results: There was no significant difference between the resurfaced and non-resurfaced groups in pre and postoperativeimprovement of range of motion (ROM) (P=0.421), KSS (P=0.782, P=0.553), KSKS-F (P=0.241, P=0.293),AKPS (P=0.128, P=0.443), WOMAC (P=0.700, P=0.282), and pain scores (P=0.120, P=0.508). There was nodifference in ROM between resurfaced and non-resurfaced group pre (15.24° and 15.45°) and post-operative (18.48°and 18.74). No side effects related to patella was observed in any of the groups. Revision was required in none ofthe participants.Conclusion: The results showed no significant difference between patellar resurfacing and non-resurfacing in TKA forall outcome measures in a short term.