Minimum 6-year follow-up of revision total knee arthroplasty without patella reimplantation

Management options for the polyethylene patellar button during a revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include retention, revision, or removal of the button without replacement (patelloplasty). Our purpose was to determine the midterm outcome of patients undergoing revision TKA with patelloplasty. We retrospectively reviewed a single surgeon's database for patients undergoing such surgery from May 2001 to June 2005 and identified 33 (34 knees). The 25 patients (26 knees) who had at least 6 years' follow-up formed our study group. We compared preoperative and final follow-up Knee Society Scores and radiographs. Mean Knee Society Scores had increased from 50 (range, 23-88) to 93 (range, 41-100), respectively. No patient required additional surgery. We conclude that, at midterm follow-up, patelloplasty appears to be a satisfactory option in the management of the patella in revision TKA.