200 patients undergoing total knee replacement (without patellar resurfacing) for degenerative joint disease were randomized to a procedure with or without circumpatellar electrocautery to determine its effect on anterior knee pain and function. Oxford knee and VAS pain scores were recorded over a 12 month period. The results indicated that there were no differences between the two groups at any time point. This study demonstrated that there was no beneficial effect of circumpatellar electrocautery on anterior knee pain or function for patients undergoing TKR without patellar resurfacing.