The preliminary results of press-fit knee arthroplasty without a patellar component.

A total of 22 cases of Kinemax prostheses implanted consecutively from January to June 1990 for the treatment of primary gonarthrosis were evaluated; in these cases remodeling of the patella was performed, and the corresponding component of the prosthesis was not used. The mean age of the patients was 64 years, mean follow-up was obtained after 48 months. According to the HSS form results were: excellent: 9 (40.9%); good: 12 (54.5%); fair: 1 (4.6%). The postoperative femorotibial axis measured a mean of 173.8 degrees. There were no complications in the patella, only in 1 case did we observe mild anterior pain. Knee arthroplasty without substitution of the patella seems to guarantee good results in patients with primary gonarthrosis, as long as patellar reconstruction is performed and correct femoropatellar alignment is guaranteed, as well as recovery of the femorotibial axis with accurate positioning of the prosthetic components.