The middle and long clinical results of patellofemoral arthroplasty for severe patellofemoral osteoarthritis

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance, and middle and long clinical outcomes of patellofemoral arthroplasty for the treatment of severe patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Methods Between January 1991 to July 1999, we studied retrospectively the outcomes of patellofemoral arthroplasty using the prosthesis (type Y-L-Q) designed by us in 39 patients (48 knee joints) with severe patellofemoral os-teoarthritis. There were 6 males (6 knee joints) and 33 females (42 knee joints) with a mean age of 54.4 years (range, 38 to 68 years). The patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12 months and subsequent years (per year) after operation. The evaluate standard was designed by us, which mainly included the symptoms of the patients and the functions of the knee joints. Results All the patients were followed up for average 12.7 years (range, 8 to 16 years). The last follow-up showed the clinical outcomes were: excellent in 29 knees, good in 12, acceptable in 2 and bad in 5. The excellent and good rate was 85.4%.There was no loosening or breakage of the prosthesis and no patellar fracture. 3 patients (5 knee joints) were performed total knee arthroplasty due to the degenerative progression of the knee joints, in which accounted for 10.4%. The mean time interval between the patellofemoral arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty was 9.3 years (range, 7 to 12 years). Conclusion Patellofemoral arthroplasty with the prosthesis designed by us was a simple and effec-tive method for the severe isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis. It could not only eliminate the pain of patel-la, but also delay the time of total knee arthroplasty. Key words: Osteoarthritis, knee;  Arthroplasty, replacement, knee;  Prosthesis design