Lateral Retinacular Release in Total Knee Arthroplasty With Patellar Replacement

Systematic Lateral Retinacular Release Does Not Reduce Post-Operative Anterior Knee Pain After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty With Patellar Replacement

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of systematic lateral retinacular release on anterior knee pain, as well as its impact on the functional and radiological outcomes after total knee arthroplasty with patellar resurfacing.

Anterior knee pain is an important cause of persistent pain after total knee arthroplasty. Lateral retinacular release has been proposed as a procedure to prevent anterior knee pain syndrome, based on the reduction of lateral tension and improving patellar tracking.

However, its effect on anterior knee pain after total knee arthroplasty is not clear when it is not strictly needed to correct maltracking.

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the effect of systematic lateral retinaculare release on anterior knee pain, peformed during a total knee arthroplasty with patellar resurfacing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior major surgery on the same knee (high tibial or distal femoral osteotomy, patellar realignment)
• important preoperative malalignment (varus or valgus >15º or flexion deformity >15º)
• inability to sign informed consent