#1 Debated Issue in Total Knee Arthroplasty Is… (Orthopedics This Week)
When joint replacement luminaries gather ‘round at the upcoming American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting, Jay Lieberman, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and outgoing president of the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons, will be stirring the pot with a panel discussion on “Great Debates in Total Knee Arthroplasty.”
Dr. Lieberman told OTW, “One of the biggest issues in the total joint replacement is whether or not to resurface the patella. Generally speaking, in the U.S., the majority of the patellas are resurfaced; in Europe it is the opposite.”
“There are three ‘camps:’ those who believe that all patellas should be resurfaced, those who resurface virtually no one, and those who do selective resurfacing. Those who do selective resurfacing make their decisions based on the thickness of the patella, the extent of the degenerative changes, and the overall size and activity level of the patient. Some surgeons are avoiding patellar resurfacing on younger, active patients because they are concerned about loosening and fractures. This appre...
