Patellofemoral resurfacing

Resurfacing (patello-femoral resurfacing) is a form of partial knee replacement where only the back of the patella and the groove of the femur are replaced with artificial components.

The procedure is relatively new, and it takes years to effectively evaluate a new surgical technique, so reports of these procedures remain a bit guarded. The design of both the components and the instrumentation is still evolving. Not many surgeons are familiar with the technique, and so total knee replacement is still generally advocated for patients who have painful destruction of the patello-femoral joint.

Reports from surgeons who are familiar with resurfacing of the patella and trochlear, however, suggest the results are improving as the procedure becomes more refined.