A New Type of Partial Knee Replacement - Patellofemoral Joint Replacement

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Patellofemoral (kneecap) joint replacement is most commonly necessary in females. Females have a tendency to develop severe patellofemoral arthritis if they have longstanding patellar (kneecap) malalignment. Women tend to have severe patellar malalignment much more commonly than males. Because women have wider hips than men, and therefore there is a substantial tendency for the kneecap to be malaligned to the lateral (outside) side. If this condition goes untreated over the years, then severe patellofemoral arthritis can develop without wearing out the rest of the knee. Severe patellar arthritis causes pain primarily upon bending and straightening the knee, squatting, kneeling, and going up and down stairs.

There are a few individuals who present to the orthopedic surgeon with insolated patelloefemoral (kneecap) joint arthritis. Patellofemoral joint replacement, as an alternative to total knee replacement, can now be performed. The only individuals who qualify for this procedure are those individuals who have a worn out kneecap joint but have a normal weight-bearing joint between the femur and tibia. Again, as in the Oxford procedure, the concept is to replace only the worn out portion of the knee joint, and not the whole joint, if it's not necessary. Patellofemoral joint replacement is a much smaller procedure than total knee replacement in that the tibia is not cut, the cartilages are not removed, and all knee ligaments are totally preserved.

Patellofemoral joint replacement surgery is a much smaller surgery than total knee replacement. It therefore allows for a quicker recovery than total knee replacement and has the potential to eliminate severe pain under the kneecap in individuals who need this procedure. In this procedure, only the trochlea portion of the femur and the undersurface of the kneecap is replaced. The incision for this procedure is a smaller incision than for total knee replacement. If you are a candidate with only patella arthritis, this is a better operation for you than a total knee replacement.

 

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