One Case of Patellar Clunk Syndrome after Posterior Stabilized TKA

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 61; no. 4; pp. 640 - 643
• Main Authors: Taguchi, Manabu, Takai, Hirokazu, Nakane, Nobutake, Hayashida, Yoichi, Takahashi, Tomoki, Eto, Shuichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 25.09.2012
• Subjects: arthroscopic debridement; patellar clunk syndrome; posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.61.640

Patellofemoral pain, crepitus, and locking after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are reported as patellar clunk syndrome (PCS). We report one case of PCS after posterior stabilized TKA. A 70-year-old man with degenerative arthritis of his left knee was treated with left TKA one month after arthroscopic synovectomy. Three months later, he noticed painful catching, grinding of the patellar when moving his knee from flexed to extended position. Arthroscopic debridement of the symptomatic patellofemoral nodule was perfomed one year after TKA, and all symptoms disappeared after operation. Many of the factors associated with an increased incidence of post operative PCS were seen in this case, such as previous surgery of the knee, increased postoperative knee flexion, failure to totally cover the patellar during resurfacing with uncovered patellar bone exposed, and peripatella synovium.