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Patella denervation improved patient satisfaction flexion range after TKA
Patients who underwent circumferential denervation of the patella during primary total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing experienced improved patient satisfaction and range of flexion 2 years postoperatively, according to study results.
Researchers randomly assigned 126 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty to receive patella denervation or no patella denervation. The researchers performed assessment preoperatively and at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Mean follow-up for patients in the denervation group was 26.5 months, and 26.3 months in the no denervation group.
Patients in the denervation group experienced significantly better patella scores in reference to anterior knee pain, as well as better VAS scores for anterior knee pain at 3 months, but not at 12 and 24 months, according to the researchers. The researchers also found a significantly better mean overall patellar score at 3 months in the denervation group, but not at 12 and 24 months. Patients in the denervation group expressed higher satisfaction with the procedure. Flexion was also higher at 3, 12 and 24 months in the denervation group, according to study results.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.