Patellar tendon bone grafting for patellectomized patients having total knee arthroplasty.

A technique for restoring the moment arm to improve quadriceps leverage after patellectomy has been developed and used in patients treated with total knee arthroplasty. Essentials of the technique involve use of a 2.5-cm diameter by 1-cm thick bone graft sewn into the previous anatomical position of the patella, using a subsynovial pouch for stabilization. Clinically, seven knees in six patients were treated with patellar tendon bone grafting during total knee arthroplasty. The final outcome of these patients was evaluated from 24 to 125 months (mean, 75.4 months). Good to excellent results were demonstrated in six of seven knees (85.7%) with sufficient extension power for normal gait in most cases. Failure to achieve painless, active extension was seen in one patient following revision knee arthroplasty complicated by chronic reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the knee. Patellar tendon bone grafting improves quadriceps leverage in previously patellectomized knees and is useful in restoring extensor function in such patients having primary or revision knee arthroplasty.