Patella resurfacing during total knee arthroplasty: have we got the issue covered?

Background: Management of the patella during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. Multiple studies have examined mechanical and clinical results of TKA with native and resurfaced patellae with no clear consensus.

Methods: We surveyed a large cohort of consultant surgeons in a questionnaire based study in order to assess the indications for patella resurfacing and to correlate practice with degree of specialization, experience and volume of procedures performed.

Results: Six hundred and nineteen surgeons were included. The main indication for patella resurfacing was patellofemoral arthritis. The ratio of those who always:sometimes:never resurfaced was 1:2:1 irrespective of experience or volume performed. There was no difference between knee specialists and non-specialists (p = 0.977) or between high and lower volume surgeons (p = 0.826). Senior and high volume surgeons tended to always resurface.

Conclusions: The majority of surgeons only sometimes resurfaced the patella. The number who always and never resurfaced were similar. There was a tendency for more experienced and high volume surgeons to always resurface.