Knee cap dislocation

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Arthroscopy

Patellar dislocation

Knee arthroscopy - series

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Knee cap dislocation

Alternative Names:

Dislocation - knee cap; Patellar dislocation or instability

First Aid:

Initial treatment consists of a knee immobilizer or cylinder cast, followed by gentle active range-of-motion (ROM) exercises. Physical therapy should be involved to help regain joint and leg strength, especially the quadriceps muscles. Taping techniques have been explored with variable results.

Surgery may be necessary to "redirect" the patella; this may be either by arthroscopic or "open" surgical reconstruction.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

Call your health care provider if you injure your knee and symptoms of dislocation occur.

Call your health care provider if you are being treated for a dislocated knee and you notice increased instability in your knee, if pain or swelling return after they initially subsided, or if your injury does not appear to be resolving with time.

Also call if you re-injure your knee.

Review Date: 8/3/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, M.D., Section of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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