What is Patello-Femoral Knee Replacement Surgery?
Patello-femoral Replacement surgery is performed for isolated one compartment arthritis of the knee involving the patello-femoral joint, otherwise known as arthritis behind the knee cap alone. This type of surgery is aimed at restoring function and reducing pain whilst maintaining the rest of the normal cartilage in the knee.
This surgery is more common in females and patients who have had previous anterior knee pain as a young adult or child and may have had surgeries on their knee cap before. Patients with knock knee deformity and trochlea hyoplasia are most at risk. The indication for doing surgery is for pain relief and function.
Patello-femoral Replacement surgery, in those whom it is indicated, can be less invasive than a total knee replacement with quicker recovery and better function. However, it should only be undertaken when all non-operative measures have failed and the patient is substantially pained and disabled in every day activities.
This component can be converted to a total knee replacement at a later date.
Success Rate & Risks
Patients undergoing Patello-femoral Replacement surgery have a 90% success rate with good pain relief function and are satisfied. Implants have a 95% 10-yr. survival rate (i.e 95% patients still have knee in place and functioning well at 10 years). After this time people start to wear or loose their joints depending on usage.
Over time, the rest of the knee can become arthritic and may also indicate the need for conversion to a total knee replacement. The following complications can occur:
- 5% chance of ongoing pain from the knee (unknown cause)
- 5% chance of complications which can occur around the time of surgery
Surgeries Performed
Dr. Wood uses the Journey PFJ Technique when performing patello-femoral replacements.
