Total Knee Tips & Pearls From Dr. Adam Rosen (A Virtual Total Knee Fellowship Podcast)

Patella Clunk

December 26, 2020 Dr. Adam Rosen Season 4 Episode 4
Total Knee Tips & Pearls From Dr. Adam Rosen (A Virtual Total Knee Fellowship Podcast)
Patella Clunk
Show Notes

Although rarely seen with newer TKA designs this was a diagnosis seen in patients with TKAs and could be extremely symptomatic.

Patellar clunk was first described by Hozack et al in 1989.

Patellar clunk occurred when a fibrous nodule forms above the patella.  This nodule would get caught in the intercondylar notch in flexion and then cause a painful clunk as patients whet from flexion into extension.

This is a clinical diagnosis.

Patients tend to do well with arthroscopic debridement when there are no radiologic abnormalities such as loosening or malposistion.

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