Significance of Patelloplasty in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Comparative Study on Functional Outcomes

Background: The role of patelloplasty during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in improving postsurgical outcomes remains debated. This study compares TKA with and without patelloplasty to evaluate its impact on knee pain, function, and patient satisfaction. Aims and Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the outcomes of TKA with patelloplasty and TKA without patelloplasty. Material and Methods: A hospital-based, prospective, and observational study was conducted at our center. A total of 48 patients diagnosed with advanced knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups: One undergoing TKA with patelloplasty and the other without. Patients were assessed using the KOOS-12 score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and anterior knee pain scale. All patients were followed up to at least 24 weeks. Result: The patelloplasty group showed better functional result in immediate postoperative period, i.e., on postoperative delirium POD 2 ( P = 0.04) and the reduction of anterior knee pain was observed to be marginally higher for those who underwent patelloplasty during the first postoperative week. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in pain relief and functional status over time. At 24 weeks’ postsurgery, most patients in both groups reported no anterior knee pain. Conclusion: While patelloplasty showed a slight trend toward improved pain relief, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference compared to nonpatelloplasty at a 24 week’ follow-up. The findings suggest that even though there is a benefit in functional status an early postoperative phase, routine patelloplasty in TKA will not provide substantial additional benefits in long term. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up is recommended.