New evidence on patella resurfacing in modern total knee arthroplasty for all inflammatory arthritis in a mixed Asian population.

BACKGROUND

Traditional teaching advocates for routine patella resurfacing (PR) during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with inflammatory arthritis. However, evidence on this topic remains limited in the Asian population. This study aims to evaluate the postoperative outcomes and complication of patella resurfacing (PR) during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Asian patients with inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted using registry data from our institution. Patients with inflammatory arthritis who underwent primary TKA from August 2017 to December 2021 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups - patella resurfaced (PR, n = 25) and non-resurfaced patella (PNR, n = 31) groups. Demographics, operative data, patient reported outcome measures, and complications were compared.

RESULTS

Preoperative range of motion (ROM) (PR:95.3 ± 23.6° vs PNR:105 ± 19.5°, p = 0.106), Knee Society Scoring System Knee score (KS-KS) (PR:44.6 ± 17.4 vs PNR:49.3 ± 17.7, p = 0.331) and Knee Society Function Score (KS-FS) (PR:40.9 ± 27.3 vs PNR:47.7 ± 27.0, p = 0.325) and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) (PR:25.0 ± 7.8 vs PNR:23.3 ± 10.3, p = 0.525) were similar in both groups. Outcomes between PR and PNR groups at the one-year mark in terms of ROM (PR:112.7 ± 18.1 vs PNR:114.6 ± 16.5, p = 0.455), OKS (PR:41.5 ± 3.9 vs PNR:41 ± 4.7, p = 0.954), KS-KS (PR:84.5 ± 13.2 vs PNR:89.2 ± 9.3, p = 0.095) and KS-FS (PR:73.6 ± 18.3 vs PNR:78.7 ± 19.3, p = 0.173) were also similar. Intraoperative complication (PR:0/25 vs PNR: 3/31 (9.6 %), p = 0.245) and re-operation rates (PR: 1/25 (4 %) vs PNR: 1/31 (3.2 %), p = 0.877) were also similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

This study conducted on a mixed Asian population with inflammatory arthritis demonstrated that the one-year postoperative ROM and functional outcomes, complication, and re-operation rates between PR and PNR groups were similar. Hence, routine patella resurfacing on all Asian patients with inflammatory arthritis undergoing TKA may not be necessary.