PATELLO-FEMORAL ARTHROPLASTY, EARLY EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Introduction The outcome of conventional treatment of isolated end-stage patello-femoral arthritis is unpredictable. Encouraging success rates have been documented in the literature with the use of patello-femoral arthroplasty. A prospective study was performed to review the early outcome of patello-femoral arthroplasties at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Methods The prospective study involved 32 patients over a period from 1999 to 2002. There were eight males and 24 females, with a mean age at surgery of 65 years. The mean follow up was 1.6 years (0.3 – 4 years). The patients were scored pre-operatively and at each post-operative visit using the Knee Society Score. Subjective results also recorded at follow-up included 1) the patient’s satisfaction in regard to pain and function, 2) whether expectations were met from the surgery and 3) if the patient would have the same operation on the other limb if the same symptoms existed. There were 31 knees available for post-operative analysis.

Results The mean knee score pre-operatively was 65.9 and post-operatively 84.3. The mean functional score pre-operatively was 75.7 and post-operatively 83.2. The mean pre-operative total knee score was 141.6 and improved to 167.5 post-operatively. The descriptive post operative Total Knee Score equates to 26 (83.9%) patients with excellent or good results and five (16.1%) patients with fair or poor results. Subjectively 87.2% of patients had an improvement in pain, 83.9% had an improvement in function, 80.7% had their expectations met and 77.5 % would consider the surgery again if required on the other leg.

Conclusions This review of the early experience of patello-femoral arthroplasty has shown patello-femoral arthroplasty to be a viable treatment option in the short term for end stage patello-femoral arthritis.