Effect of patellar denervation on mid-term results after non-resurfaced total knee arthroplasty. A randomised, controlled trial

Acta Orthop Belg. 2015 Dec;81(4):609-13.

Abstract

Aim of this study is to determine the clinical effect of circumpatellar electrocautery on cases undergoing non-resurfaced total knee arthroplasty.

Patients and methods: 184 patients undergoing non-resurfaced total knee arthroplasty were included and randomized into two, patient and outcome assessor-blinded, parallel groups: 92 patient in denervation group & 92 patients in no-denervation group. Pre-operative and final most recent follow up's Western Ontario McMaster score and anterior knee pain rating were used for statistical analysis.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between both groups preoperatively in anterior knee pain, WOMAC score, or range of motion. While on all the three parameters there was a statistically significant difference in improvement in favor of denervation group.

Discussion: Our study demonstrated that post-operative functional score and anterior knee pain score were significantly better in electrocauterised group. This shows that patellar denervation significantly improve clinical outcome and decreased anterior knee pain in NR-TKA.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Arthralgia / etiology
  • Arthralgia / surgery*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / adverse effects*
  • Denervation / methods*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Pain, Postoperative / surgery*
  • Patella / innervation*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome