Postoperative patellar tilt in total knee arthroplasty.

The postoperative tilt of the patella was investigated in 80 consecutive bilateral total knee arthroplasties in 40 patients. We found that the greater the preoperative lateral tilt, the more likely the patella would tilt postoperatively. The obliquity of resection of the patella has a significant effect on the postoperative lateral tilt. Making the patella remnant thicker on the medial side can decrease the postoperative lateral tilt. A limited lateral peripatellar soft tissue release had no discernible effect on the postoperative lateral tilt of the resurfaced patella.