Two years ago, I was hit by a car and had to have my kneecap removed. At the time, it didn’t seem that important. Now, I find there are many activities I’d like to do that would be more comfortable or easier with a kneecap. Is it too late to have an implant put in?

An orthopedic doctor can best answer this question. The removal of the kneecap or patella is called patellectomy. Replacing the patella is optional and not always advised. There can be problems with the plastic implant interfacing with bone. No one really knows how long these replacement parts last.

However, newer and better implants and improved surgery makes a patellar implant possible. See your doctor for an exam to answer this question.