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Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 3/2014

01-03-2014 | Knee

Less anterior knee pain with a routine lateral release in total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing: a prospective, randomized study

Authors: Guo-Chun Zha, Jun-Ying Sun, Sheng-Jie Dong

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 3/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

Anterior knee pain is a major cause of complaint in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without patellar resurfacing. The concept of improved patellar tracking and decreased retropatellar contact pressure for lateral retinacular release theoretically suggests that patients with lateral retinacular release in TKA would achieve a lower incidence of anterior knee pain when compared without lateral retinacular release. We sought to determine (1) whether those patients who received a routine lateral retinacular release in TKA would attain lower incidence of anterior knee pain as compared to patients who received TKA without lateral retinacular release and (2) whether lateral retinacular release would increase the lateral retinacular release-related complications.

Methods

A total of 148 patients who underwent TKA with the use of the Gemini MK II mobile bearing were randomized to receive either routine lateral retinacular release (intervention group) or not (control group). Patients were assessed by the visual analogue scale for anterior knee pain, the Knee Society clinical scoring system of knee score and function score, and patellar score for clinical function. Patients’ satisfaction and lateral retinacular release-related complications were also evaluated.

Results

The overall incidence of anterior knee pain in the intervention group at 18 months follow-up was 5.6 %, while that of the control group was 20.6 % (p = 0.009). No statistical difference was detected between the two groups in terms of lateral retinacular release-related complications (n.s.), patients’ satisfaction (n.s.), knee score (n.s.), function score (n.s.), and patellar score (n.s.) at 18 months follow-up.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that routine lateral retinacular release can reduce anterior knee pain and does not increase lateral retinacular release-related complications, in TKA with the use of the Gemini MK II mobile bearing without patellar resurfacing.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic, Level I.
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Metadata
Title
Less anterior knee pain with a routine lateral release in total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing: a prospective, randomized study
Authors
Guo-Chun Zha
Jun-Ying Sun
Sheng-Jie Dong
Publication date
01-03-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2789-0

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