A Rare Presentation of Patella Button Aseptic Loosening After a Total Knee Replacement Without Evidence of Radiographic Loosening

Patella resurfacing in total knee replacement (TKR) has been shown to reduce the rate of anterior knee pain, but there are complications from patella resurfacing. A 54-year-old male underwent a left primary TKR with patella resurfacing 15 years ago. He developed spontaneous progressive anterior knee pain for six months. At revision surgery, his patella button was found to be loose. Loosening of a three-peg patella button is rare. A high index of suspicion of patella button loosening should be suspected in patients who present with anterior knee pain after patella resurfacing.