Comparison between patellar resurfacing with an inset plastic button and patelloplasty.

Of 101 patients who underwent knee replacement with the Tricon P prosthesis and were followed up for 2 or more years, 68 had patellar resurfacing with a recessed press-fit plastic button and 43 patients had patelloplasty (shaving of the patella and removal of osteophytes). All patients were followed up for more than 2 years. Three percent of the patients who had patellar resurfacing, later had patellar fractures; 4.6% of the patients who had patelloplasty initially, subsequently required patellar replacement. There were no instances of loosening of the patellar replacement. Patellofemoral aching was experienced by 7.6% of the patients who had patellar resurfacing and by 17.6% of those who did not. Of the patients who had patellar resurfacing, 61.5% could climb stairs without aids using the replaced side as the lead leg compared with 37.2% of the patients who had patelloplasty. Overall ratings of the surgical results were similar for the two groups. The author concludes that patellar resurfacing improves the quality of the result and that there are few drawbacks to the use of an inset patellar button.