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Patellar Dislocation and Instability, Sports Medicine

Aaron Gray, MD, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Patellar instability is defined as hypermobility of the patella in either the medial or lateral direction.

  • Medial instability is extremely rare.

  • Complete dislocation and subluxation re...

DIAGNOSIS

Prehospital: 
  • Patient has severe pain and may have heard a pop at time of dislocation.

  • Knee is usually held in 20 to 30 degrees of flexion, and patella is palpable laterally.

  • Hemarthrosis causi...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • If not reduced spontaneously, may require conscious sedation for pain control and muscle relaxation

  • Alternatively, arthrocentesis performed with instillation of 10 to 15 mL of...

REFERENCES

1
Sanders TL, Pareek A, Hewett TE, et al. Incidence of first-time lateral patellar dislocation: a 21-year population-based study. Sports Health.  2018;10(2):146–151.
2
Jain N, Khan N, Fit...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Iobst CA, Stanitski CL. Acute knee injuries. Clin Sports Med.  2000;19(4):621–635.

  • Roberts DM, Stallard TC. Emergency department evaluation and treatment of knee and leg injurie...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Patellar dislocation is a common diagnosis in an adolescent with knee effusion after twisting injury. Tenderness of the medial patella in this situation can suggest patella dislocation...

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