Arthroscopic Debridement, Facetectomy, and Synovectomy for Isolated Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis

Isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) is a condition that affects climbing, squatting, and standing up movements in daily life and sports. Various surgical methods have been developed to address the various causes, different degrees of cartilage degeneration, and combined lesions. We describe an arthroscopic patellofemoral arthroplasty technique, with the main purpose to decrease the pain originating from the patellofemoral joint and related structures. The critical points of this technique are patellofemoral denervation and partial patellar facetectomy. Our clinical experience indicates that this technique is effective to address all kinds of PFOA. We consider that the introduction of this technique will provide a feasible choice when surgical treatment of PFOA is indicated.