124 female patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing were randomized to undergo the procedure with or without circumpatellar denervation via electrocautery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient outcome through the American Knee Society score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain and Function scores, and the Patellofemoral Total score and Anterior Knee Pain sub-score. The results at 5 years demonstrated no significant differences between groups in any outcome measure.