Patello femoral replacement at Spire Harpenden Hospital

Patello femoral replacement is performed for osteoarthritis affecting the back of the kneecap. In about 10% of arthritis patients the majority of their knee symptoms are coming from a worn kneecap. These people suffer from knee pain when crouching, climbing and descending stairs, walking up slopes and getting out of low chairs. Patients with this condition are usually able to walk with minimal pain on the level.

Initially patello femoral arthritis can be treated with painkillers, anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy and, in the earlier stages, arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) but as the knee progressively wears, joint replacement surgery may be required to relieve the pain and improve mobility.

If the majority of the joint is free from arthritis (or displays minimal symptoms) it may be possible to replace the back of the patella and the front of the femur (thigh bone) to provide relief. If other parts of the knee are also affected a total knee replacement is the better option.

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You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

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Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

The surgery involves removing a small thickness of the damaged bone from the front of the femur (thigh bone) and the back of the patella (kneecap). The patello femoral replacement fits inside the space and is fixed to the bone with cement.

The operation takes about 40 minutes and involves a 10-15cm incision over the front of the knee. The wound is closed with either clips or an absorbable suture.

The patello femoral prosthesis comes in 2 parts. The femoral component is made of metal and is highly polished. The back of the patella is covered with a plastic button, which sits in a shallow groove on the front of the metal femoral component. Essentially a patello femoral replacement is the front part of a total knee replacement, but leaves the unworn cartilage over the rest of the joint intact.

The day after the operation your exercise regime begins. With the aid of a physiotherapist you will get out of bed and begin to exercise your new knee replacement. With perseverance, you should be able to climb stairs by the second day and go home the following day.

You will need to continue attending physiotherapy as an outpatient.  For most people it will take around 6 weeks to be walking reasonably with only one stick. After four months you should be able to walk well without pain, climb stairs (leading with your operated leg) and be capable of a range of movement with your new knee from 0 degrees to at least 120 degrees.

It is important to remember that an artificial knee is not a normal knee; you may well be able to carry out many normal activities of daily living. However, this range of movement may not be as good as it was before surgery and you may never be able to kneel after your patello femoral replacement.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.