Osteonecrosis of bipartite patella following total knee arthroplasty without lateral release

We present a case of osteonecrosis of bipartite patella occurring after total knee arthroplasty using medial parapatellar approach without lateral retinacular release in osteoarthritic knee of a 66 year-old-male. The surgery was performed using traditional technique with medial parapatellar approach and patella was resurfaced. Patella was everted during surgery. There was no event during follow-up period after surgery. Range of motion of the knee was 135° without flexion contracture. Eight months after the surgery, patella was fragmented and resorbed on the radiographs which was consistent with osteonecrosis. The patient showed extension limitation of 30° with no pain. Patellar osteonecrosis has been rarely reported after total knee arthroplasty with lateral retinacular release. However, there was no report of patellar osteonecrosis after total knee arthroplasty without lateral retinacular release. Caution should be taken about patellar osteonecrosis in case of bipartite patella even though lateral retinaculum is preserved during total knee arthroplasty.