Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in ankylosed knees with patella baja represents a major surgical challenge, especially in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Adequate exposure is critical and may require extensile approaches. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 64-year-old female with long-standing RA and bilateral knee ankylosis in 40° flexion. She underwent bilateral TKA with V-Y quadricepsplasty, which allowed satisfactory patellar mobilization and exposure. Postoperatively, she regained full extension and 90° of flexion at 6 months without extensor lag or complications. CONCLUSION: V-Y quadricepsplasty is a reliable and safe option for surgical exposure in TKA for ankylosed knees with patella baja, avoiding the risks associated with tibial tubercle osteotomy, particularly in patients with fragile bone quality due to RA.