The incidence of the patellar clunk syndrome in a recently designed mobile-bearing posteriorly stabilised total knee replacement

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2009 Apr;91(4):463-8. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.91B4.21494.

Abstract

The patellar clunk syndrome describes painful catching, grinding or jumping of the patella when the knee moves from a flexed to an extended position after total knee replacement (TKR). The posterior stabilised TKR had been noted to have a higher incidence of this problem. Mobile-bearing posteriorly stabilised TKRs have been introduced to improve patellar tracking and related problems by a mechanism of self-alignment. We evaluated the patellar clunk syndrome in 113 knees in 93 patients with such a TKR at a mean follow-up of 2.3 years (2.0 to 3.2). The syndrome was identified in 15 knees (13.3%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the absolute value of the post-operative angle of patellar tilt was significantly associated with the occurrence of patellar clunk (p = 0.025). Patellar tracking should be carefully checked during surgery.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / surgery
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / adverse effects*
  • Arthroscopy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Knee Prosthesis*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / surgery
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / etiology*
  • Prosthesis Design