Arthroscopic Treatment of Patellar Clunk Syndrome After Total Knee Arthroplasty

IF 2.1 Q3 ORTHOPEDICS

Arthroplasty Today Pub Date : 2026-06-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-03 DOI:10.1016/j.artd.2026.102047

Maxwell C. Alley MD , W. Doug Werry MD , Charles A. Guerra BS , Hadley Winslow BS , Margaret Hedeman BA , Alan Shi MD , Brian T. Samuelsen MD , Philip H. Aurigemma MD , Mark J. Lemos MD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Patellar clunk syndrome is a complication of total knee arthroplasty. Surgical treatment with arthroscopic irrigation and debridement and lysis of adhesions is often required when conservative treatment fails. This study examines patient improvement following arthroscopic treatment of patellar clunk.

Methods

This single-surgeon case series uses a posterior-stabilized implant design. We performed a retrospective review of all patients from September 2013 to November 2020 treated for patellar clunk syndrome with arthroscopic debridement. Patient variables analyzed included knee flexion/extension angle and symptoms, including pain and mechanical symptoms. Analysis used paired t-tests with an alpha level of 0.05.

Results

Fifty procedures were examined. Mean patient age was 61.4 years (standard deviation [SD] = 8.57 years), and 64% were female. Before arthroscopy, the mean maximum knee extension (KE) of the affected side was 0.85° (SD = 3°), and the mean maximum knee flexion (KF) was 120.5° (SD = 9.4°). At the last follow-up, the mean maximum KE was 0.36° (SD = 1.3°), and the mean maximum KF was 123.1° (SD = 9.4°). Paired t-tests comparing preoperative and postoperative KF and KE were P = .138 and P = .487, respectively. All patients reported less pain, and 90% (45/50) reported mechanical symptom improvement.

Conclusions

Arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic patellar clunk syndrome is safe and effective: almost all included patients experienced symptom relief, with a slight improvement in KF. This was a retrospective cohort study with a level of evidence of III.

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全膝关节置换术后髌骨粘连综合征的关节镜治疗

背景：髌骨磕碰综合征是全膝关节置换术的并发症。当保守治疗失败时，通常需要关节镜冲洗、清创和粘连溶解的手术治疗。本研究探讨关节镜治疗髌骨磕磕碰碰后患者的改善情况。方法本病例系列采用后稳定种植体设计。我们对2013年9月至2020年11月接受关节镜清创治疗的所有髌骨磕碰综合征患者进行了回顾性研究。分析的患者变量包括膝关节屈伸角度和症状，包括疼痛和机械症状。分析采用配对t检验，α水平为0.05。结果共检查了50例手术。患者平均年龄为61.4岁（标准差[SD] = 8.57岁），女性占64%。关节镜检查前，患侧平均最大膝关节伸度（KE）为0.85°（SD = 3°），平均最大膝关节屈曲度（KF）为120.5°（SD = 9.4°）。末次随访时，平均最大KE为0.36°（SD = 1.3°），平均最大KF为123.1°（SD = 9.4°）。配对t检验比较术前和术后KF和KE分别为P = 0.138和P = 0.487。所有患者报告疼痛减轻，90%（45/50）报告机械症状改善。结论关节镜治疗症状性髌骨磕磕碎裂综合征安全有效，几乎所有患者症状均有所缓解，KF略有改善。这是一项回顾性队列研究，证据水平为III。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Arthroplasty Today Medicine-Surgery

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

258

审稿时长

40 weeks

期刊介绍： Arthroplasty Today is a companion journal to the Journal of Arthroplasty. The journal Arthroplasty Today brings together the clinical and scientific foundations for joint replacement of the hip and knee in an open-access, online format. Arthroplasty Today solicits manuscripts of the highest quality from all areas of scientific endeavor that relate to joint replacement or the treatment of its complications, including those dealing with patient outcomes, economic and policy issues, prosthetic design, biomechanics, biomaterials, and biologic response to arthroplasty. The journal focuses on case reports. It is the purpose of Arthroplasty Today to present material to practicing orthopaedic surgeons that will keep them abreast of developments in the field, prove useful in the care of patients, and aid in understanding the scientific foundation of this subspecialty area of joint replacement. The international members of the Editorial Board provide a worldwide perspective for the journal''s area of interest. Their participation ensures that each issue of Arthroplasty Today provides the reader with timely, peer-reviewed articles of the highest quality.