Patellofemoral resurfacing

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

Patellofemoral resurfacing is a partial knee replacement involving the areas of both patella and femur where they come into contact.

trochlear-implant_02_328x264.jpg
The femoral component - also called a trochlear implant.
Illustration to how how the rear surface of the patella is cut away and replaced with a 'button'.
The patellar component. The damaged half of the patella is cut away and discarded and a polyethylene button is cemented onto undersurface in its stead.

Materials for resurfacing

The femur component is usually metal, while the patellar component is usually ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

The polyethylene component for the patella has small 'feet' that are cemented into holes drilled into the undersurface of the cut bone.

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