A Guide to Patellar Implant Design: Radiologic Investigation on Gender and Age-related Morphological Differences and Surgical Characteristics of the Patella

Background: The morphometry of the patella serves as a critical guide in understanding the biomechanics of the knee joint, the pathophysiology of knee disorders, gender determination, the design of patellar implants, and patellar reconstruction procedures. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to collect morphometric data on the patella in the Turkish population and to analyze these findings in relation to gender, laterality, and age. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on computed tomography images of the knee joints from 426 patellas (141 males, 72 females) aged 20–89. Patellar parameters were measured and compared according to gender and laterality. In addition, three age groups were formed to investigate age-related differences. Results: Patellar height (PH), width, thickness, medial facet width, lateral facet width (LFW), and facet thickness were significantly greater in males. In contrast, the patellar medial facet ratio, patellar lateral facet ratio (PLFR), and patellar relative thickness were significantly higher in females. A significant difference in the PLFR was observed between the right and left sides. Furthermore, PH, thickness, and LFW exhibited significant differences across the age groups. Conclusions: The findings from this study are expected to prove valuable in procedures such as total knee arthroplasty, patellofemoral arthroplasty, prosthesis design, and enriching local anthropological records.