Control-matched Evaluation of Painful Patellar Crepitus After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Description: Many of the factors associated with an increased incidence of postoperative Patellar Crepitus such as shortened patellar tendon length, use of smaller patellar components, decreased patellar composite thickness, and increased posterior femoral condylar offset may all increase quadriceps tendon contact forces against the superior aspect of the intercondylar box, increasing the risk of fibrosynovial proliferation and entrapment within the intercondylar region of the femoral component. Based on these findings, the authors recommend use of larger patellar components when possible, avoid oversection of the patella or increasing posterior femoral condylar offset, and advising patients preoperatively who have had previous knee surgery or demonstrate a shortened patellar tendon length of an increased risk of development of postoperative patellar crepitus.
The John Insall Award: Control-matched Evaluation of Painful Patellar Crepitus After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Douglas A. Dennis, Raymond H. Kim, Derek R. Johnson, Bryan D. Springer, Thomas K. Fehring & Adrija Sharma. CORR 2010 Volume 469, Number 1, 10-17