LATERAL PATELLAR BURNISHING IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY FOLLOWING MEDIALIZATION OF THE PATELLAR BUTTON

This case report describes a total knee revision necessitated by painf ul contact between the exposed lateral facet of the patella and the fe moral component. Pain was resolved following repositioning and enlargi ng the patellar component. The clinical significance of this report is that the contemporary practice of medializing the patellar component to improve patellar tracking should be performed in moderation to avoi d overexposure of the lateral patella. In the setting of persistent an terior knee pain following total knee arthroplasty, the etiology of th e pain may be identified as contact between the patellar and femoral c omponent on the sunrise radiograph.