Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of the preservation of infrapatellar fat pad on pain,incision healing and function recovery in patients with knee osteoarthritis after joint replacement.Methods The clinical data of 127 patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent joint replacement in the hospital from June 2019 to September 2022 were retrospectively collected.According to the preservation of infrapatellar fat pad,the subjects were divided into a control group (removing infrapatellar fat pad,67 cases) and an observation group (preserving infrapatellar fat pad,60 cases).The changes in length of patellar tendon,pain,knee function and range of motion were analyzed.The occurrence of adverse reactions was statistically analyzed.Results At 12 months after surgery,the length of patellar tendon was reduced.The length of patellar tendon in observation group [(38.8±6.24) mm] was longer than that in control group [(36.2±6.71) mm] (P＜0.05).Observation group of patellar tendon length rate is lower than the control group [(4.1±1.18)% vs (10.7±3.01)%],there was statistical significance between the two groups(P< 0.05).Pain in both groups was alleviated at 1 month,3 months,6 months and 12 months after surgery.The changes in observation group were greater than those in control group (P＜0.05).During follow-up,the incidence of adverse reactions in observation group (6.67%) was lower than that in control group (14.93%) (P>0.05).The range of motion and function of knee joint were improved at 12 months after surgery,and the improvement in observation group was greater than that in control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Preserving infrapatellar fat pad is more beneficial to relieving postoperative pain and restoring knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis after joint replacement.Therefore,the intact infrapatellar fat pad should be preserved as possible in clinical practice.

Key words: infrapatellar fat pad;knee osteoarthritis;joint replacement;pain degree;incision healing;function recovery