Dislocation of the knee joint
A dislocation occurs when a bone is pulled or pushed out of its normal relationship to the other bones that make up a joint. It takes great force to dislocate a knee joint, and complete dislocation is uncommon. A dislocated knee joint requires emergency treatment.
Symptoms of a dislocated knee include:
- Severe pain.
- An odd, misshapen appearance or a bone that looks out of its normal position. The dislocated knee may look very different from the opposite knee.
- A feeling like something popped or feels out of place.
- Inability to bend or straighten the knee.
- Cool, pale skin or numbness and tingling in or below the affected knee.
- A feeling of severe instability.
Dislocation of the knee is a serious problem even if the bone pops back into place.
- Soft tissues in or around a joint, such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage, may stretch and tear.
- Nerves and blood vessels can be damaged.
- A piece of bone at the base of the joint may break off and lodge inside the joint or cause a fracture that extends into the joint.
Immediate medical treatment may involve:
- Putting the bone back in place (reduction) if it hasn't already popped back in place.
- Splinting the joint.
- Immediate referral for further evaluation and testing to check blood vessels and nerves or for surgery to repair damage.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: October 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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