Conclusion
Lateral release is a successful tool to provide soft tissue balance to the patellofemoral joint. Lateral release does have its limitations and will not substitute for poor surgical technique. We recommend preservation of this lateral superior genicular artery when possible, not only for patella avascularity, but also for the potential benefits with wound healing. Utilization of the all-inside technique not only allows for vessel identification, but also avoids a large lateral skin flap that could also interfere with wound healing.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Brick GW, Scott RD. The patellofemoral component of total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1988; 231:163.
Clayton ML, Thirupathi R. Patella complications after total condylar arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1982; 170:152.
Grace JM, Sim FH. Fracture of the patella after total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1988; 230:168.
Ranawat CS. The patellofemoral joint in total condylar knee arthroplasty: pros and cons based on 5–10 year follow-up observations. Clin Orthop. 1986; 205:93.
Rand JA. Patella resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1990; 200:110.
Reuben JD, McDonald L, Woodard PL, Hennington LJ. The effect of patella thickness on patella strain following total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 1991; 6:251.
Scuderi G, Scharf SC, Meltzer LP, Scott WN. The relationship of lateral releases to patella viability in total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 1987; 2:209.
Windsor RE, Scuderi GR, Insall JN. Patella fractures in total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 1989; 4(Suppl):63.
Scapinelli R. Blood supply of the human patella. J Bone Joint Surg. 1967; 9B:563.
Shim SS, Leury G. Blood supply of the knee joint. A microangiographic study in children and adults. Clin Orthop. 1986; 208:119–125.
Bjorkstrom S, Goldie IF. A study of the arterial blood supply of the patella in the normal state, in chondromalacia patellae and in osteoarthritis. ACTA Orthop Scand. 1980; 51:63.
Scott RD. Prosthetic replacement of the patellofemoral joint. Clin Orthop North Am. 1979; 10:129–137.
Spitzer AI, Vince KG. Patellar considerations in total knee replacement. In: The Patella. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1995:309–331.
Rhoades DP, Noble PC, Reuben JD, et al. The effect of femoral component position on the kinematics of total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1993; 286:122–129.
Rhoades DP, Noble PC, Reuben JD, et al. The effect of femoral component position on patella tracking after total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1990; 260:43–51.
Yoshi I, Whiteside LA, Anouchi YS. The effect of patella button placement and femoral component design on patellar tracking in total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1992; 275:211–219.
Briard JL, Hungerford PS. Patellofemoral instability in total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 1989; 4(Suppl):87–97.
Flandry F, Hardy AF, Kester MA. A chronically dislocating prosthetic patella; a case report. Orthopedics. 1988; 11: 457–460.
MacCrollum MS, Karpman RR. Complications of the PCA Anatomic Patella. Orthopedics. 1989; 12:1423–1428.
Greenfeld MA, Insall JN, Case GA, Kelf MA. Instrumentation of the patellar osteotomy in total knee arthroplasty. The relationship of patellar thickness and lateral retinacular release. Am J Knee Surg. 1996; 9(3):129–132.
DeMuth BL, Scuderi GR, Insall JN. The effect of the epicondylar axis on patella tracking in total knee arthroplasty. Knee Society and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Combined Meeting. San Francisco, California, February, 1997.
Bindelglass DF, Cohen JL, Dorr LA. Patellar tilt and subluxation in total knee arthroplasty, relationship to pain, fixation and design. Clin Orthop. 1993; 286:103–109.
Soifer TB, Gavin MD, Insall JN. Localization of the superior lateral genicular artery. Am J Knee Surg. 1993; 6(4):163–166.
Scuderi GR, Scharf SC, Meltzer L, Nisonson B, Scott WN. Evaluation of patella viability after disruption of the arterial circulation. Am J Sports Med. 1987; 15(5):490–493.
McMahon MS, Scuderi GR, Glashow JL, Scharf SC, Meltzer LP, and Scott WN. Scintographic determination of patella viability after excision of the infrapatellar fat pad and/or lateral release in total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1990; 260:10.
Tria AJ, Harwood DA, Alicea JA, Cody RP. Patella fractures in posterior stabilizer knee arthroplasties. Clin Orthop. 1994; 299:131–138.
Ritter MA, Campbell ED. Postoperative patella complications with or without lateral release during total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 1987; 219:163–168.
Ritter MA, Herbst SA, Kelly M, Faris PM, Meding JB. Patellofemoral complications following total knee arthroplasty-effect of lateral release and sacrifice of the superior lateral genicular artery. J Arthroplasty. 1996; 11(4):368–371.
Johnson DP, Eastwood DM. Lateral patella release in knee arthroplasty. Effect on wound healing. J Arthroplasty. 1992; 7:427–431.
Laughlin RT, Werries RA, Verhulst SJ, Hayes JM. Patella tilt in TKA. Am J Orthopaedics. 1996; XXV(4):300–304.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cushner, F.D., Scott, W.N. (2002). Benefits and Pitfalls of Lateral Patella Release. In: Scuderi, G.R., Tria, A.J. (eds) Surgical Techniques in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21714-2_44
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21714-2_44
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-98389-9
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21714-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive