Does patellar rim electrocautery have deleterious effects on patellar cartilage?

Background: Circumpatellar electrocauterization to destroy pain receptors during total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing is commonly used to decrease postoperative knee pain. We aimed to evaluate the effect of denervation with electrocauterization on patellar cartilage.

Methods: Twenty rabbits were randomly assigned to two equally sized case and control groups.