What is patellar dislocation?
Patellar dislocation is an injury that affects mostly children between 14 and 17 years of age, especially those involved in sports. The pathology consists of the external dislocation of the patella from its natural position in the patellofemoral joint, which results in the patella no longer being aligned with the femur. As the patella moves outward, there is often deterioration of the ligaments and cartilage as well. It is also important to distinguish between dislocation of the patella and dislocation of the entire knee, as the latter affects a different joint, the joint that joins the femur and tibia.
Prognosis of patella dislocation
Dislocation of the patella is a pathology that, despite being particularly painful and of long resolution, is successfully treated and from which the affected person can recover completely.
Treatment of the disease should be carried out as quickly as possible.
Symptoms of patella dislocation
The main symptom is a sudden sharp pain in the knee with hematoma in the joint, in the medial area, blood leakage into the joint and a clear deformity of the joint. External hypermobility of the patella is also common.
Diagnosis of patellar dislocation
If the above symptoms are present, the first step will be to perform an X-ray. Alternatively, CT and MRI scans will be useful to exclude possible injury to the meniscus, ligaments or microfractures of articular cartilage fragments.
What are the causes of patellar dislocation?
The main causes of patellar dislocation are injuries due to a knee injury or sudden movements of the joint in incorrect positions. The most frequent occurs when the quadriceps femoris muscle contracts while the leg is not in a rotated position and the knee is partially flexed. This is particularly true if there is an anatomical predisposition, such as knee height.
Can it be prevented?
Prevention of patellar dislocation of the knee is particularly complex, especially in cases of structural predisposition or for athletes, given the nature of the origin of the disorder.
Treatments for patellar dislocation of the kneecap
Treatment of the condition should be carried out as quickly as possible after the accident and consists of manually reducing the dislocation, i.e. repositioning the bone to its original position in the joint. During the initial phase, the specialist will advise to intervene with ice on the affected area and will prescribe an anti-inflammatory treatment. Only in cases of microfractures of articular cartilage fragments will arthroscopic surgery be necessary. The standard treatment for this disorder is to completely block the joint with a cast for at least 15 days, and some simple movements can be performed in the following weeks. Once the cast is removed, physiotherapy can be used to rebuild the quadriceps muscle, which is weakened after the period of forced rest, thus facilitating the correct repositioning of the patella. Electrostimulation, as well as the use of a specific knee brace, offer good results in the recovery phase. In any case, it will not be possible to return to sport before eight or nine weeks, a time that will have to be extended even further in the case of joint surgery.
Which specialist should be consulted?
The specialist who diagnoses and treats the dislocation is the orthopedist. In cases where surgery is really necessary, a surgeon should be consulted.