Patellofemoral Arthritis

Patellofemoral arthroplasty represents a modern surgical treatment for patients with isolated patellofemoral arthritis. This procedure is less invasive than total knee arthroplasty and preserves the patients' ligaments, menisci, and most of their native knee joint. Even though it raised much controversy in its early days due to poor results, newer-generation implants have led to lower complications rates and improved outcomes. This is mainly owing to the use of onlay implants, which truly replace the patellofemoral compartment. Thorough patient selection is crucial to optimize outcomes. Progression of arthritis in the tibiofemoral compartments currently constitutes the most frequently seen complication. Recent advances include the use of computer navigation and the combination of patellofemoral arthroplasty with other minimally invasive procedures to address more extensive disease of the knee joint.