Effect of excision of the fat pad in total knee replacement surgery.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effect of excision of the fat pad in total knee replacement surgery. A randomised controlled trial.
IRAS ID
100327
Contact name
Joanne Banks
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
R&D Department, Royal Liverpool Hospital
Research summary
The infrapatellar fat pad is a structure that is located within the knee. It sits at the front of the joint, just deep to the patella ligament. The function of the fat pad is not understood.
During knee replacement surgery, some surgeons prefer to remove the whole of the fat pad to improve exposure, whilst other surgeons would rather cut away the minimum amount and preserve the bulk of the structure. This surgical step of removing the fat pad is only a very minor part of a total knee replacement procedure.
There is no research on whether removing the fat pad or not has any effect on the knee replacement. Surgeons that remove the fat pad argue that it improves exposure of the knee joint and it may make the procedure more efficient. Surgeons that retain the fat pad argue that it may decrease the level of postoperative pain and prevent patella baja (shortening of the patella ligament), which may be a cause of post operative pain.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0368
Date of REC Opinion
7 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion