Patellar resurfacing in total knee replacement: 20-year clinical and economic results of a large multicentre, randomised controlled trial in the UK
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence regarding the merits of patellar resurfacing during total knee replacement (TKR), as previous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been under-powered and with follow-up of ten years or less. METHODS: A pragmatic, multicentre, open-label RCT was initiated in 1999 in the UK. Within a partial-factorial design, participants were randomly allocated to receive or not receive patellar resurfacing during primary TKR and were followed up for 20 years. Adult (aged ≥18 years) patients due to have a primary TKR under the care of a collaborating surgeon were eligible. Participants were allocated (1:1) using an automated telephone service stratified by surgeon, with minimisation according to the patients' age (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes
Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques
Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Lancet
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 408
- Issue
- 10549
- Pages
- 52–61
- Publication date
- 17 June 2026
- Language
- EN