Arthroscopic patellar denervation with microfracture for treating patellofemoral arthritis in cold weather conditions: a retrospective clinical analysis

Abstract Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of combining arthroscopic patellar denervation with microfracture in the treatment of patellofemoral arthritis under cold weather conditions. Methods A total of 134 patients with patellofemoral arthritis who underwent treatment between June 2019 and June 2021 were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group, which received standard arthroscopic debridement and conventional therapy, and the study group, which underwent additional peripatellar denervation and microfracture procedures. Clinical outcomes, including Tegner scores, hospital for special surgery (HSS) scores, and treatment-related adverse events, were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results The study group achieved a significantly higher excellent treatment rate (95.52%, 64/67) compared to the control group. Posttreatment Tegner scores (5.48 ± 1.86) and HSS scores (86.37 ± 11.25) were also significantly better in the study group than in the control group. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the study group (4.48%, 3/67), with statistically significant differences observed ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Arthroscopic patellar denervation combined with microfracture markedly improves clinical outcomes, including Tegner and HSS scores, in the treatment of patellofemoral arthritis, particularly under cold weather conditions. The procedure is effective and safe, supporting its broader clinical application.