This surgery treats damage on the back of the patella. That's the bone we know as the "kneecap." Patellofemoral replacement is not as complex as a total knee replacement. For some patients, it restores knee function and stops pain.
To begin, we give you medicine to put you to sleep. We make an incision in the front of your knee. This lets us reach your damaged kneecap. We gently move your kneecap aside and examine your joint.
Now we clean up the damage. From the front of the femur, we take away some of the cartilage and bone that rests against the back of the kneecap. From the back of the kneecap, we remove damaged cartilage and bone.
Finally, we insert the implants. One is secured to the femur. The other is secured to the back of the kneecap. When we place these implants together, they glide smoothly against one another. This lets your knee bend and extend as it should.
When we're done, we close and bandage your skin. You're watched for a brief time as you wake up. Follow your surgeon's instructions for a safe recovery.