Gait and functional analysis of patients following patellectomy.

Twelve patients who had undergone unilateral total patellectomies were subjected to a thorough evaluation which included questionnaire, physical examination, isometric and isokinetic muscle testing and gait analysis. There were seven excellent results, one good, and four fair results. Patients with excellent and good results had a 45% loss of their quadriceps power compared with the fair group which had a 60% loss of quadriceps power. The patients with an excellent and good result had a velocity of 75.9 m/min compared with the fair result group which averaged 54.3 m/min. There was also a significant difference between the si ng Ie I im b support time in the excel lent and good groups compared with the fair group. Eighty per cent of the patients demonstrated early soleus firing prior to heel contact which is hypothesized to decrease the quadriceps demands at heel strike. Gait analysis revealed direct correlation with functional results, with patients with an excellent or good result having almost a normal gait pattern, compared with the fair group's having marked abnormalities of gait.