What is a Patellar Dislocation?
More commonly known as the kneecap, the patella is a sesamoid bone that sits in front of the knee joint. Proper tracking of the patella would prevent any discomfort that would arise from the knee joint. A patellar dislocation is simply where the patella is knocked out of its’ normal path of tracking. There are complete dislocations and partial dislocations, which are called subluxations. One of the leading causes of patellar dislocations is the lack of strength of the quadriceps muscles. The quadriceps can help assist in holding the patella in place when it is hit with a force that causes it to dislocate.
Causes
In sports, patellar dislocations are a acute injury that is caused by a sudden twist of the leg and/or a blow to the knee that causes the patella to move laterally to the tracking surface of the knee. Other secondary causes of patellar dislocations include:
- History of patellar dislocations
- Shallow patellofemoral groove
- Tight muscles that insert near/around the knee (IT Band, Hip flexors, Biceps femoris, vastus lateralis)
Symptoms
Being an acute injury, symptoms of patellar dislocations are very limited but very identifiable. These symptoms include:
- Swelling on and around the patella
- “Kneecap slipped out of place” feeling
- Visible lateral translation of the patella
- Pain with flexion and extension of the knee
- Instability with weight bearing exercises
Treatment
There are many ways to treat patellar dislocations. These methods consist of:
- Patellar relocation by a health professional
- Physiotherapy
- Pain-reducing medications
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- Chiropractic therapy
- Surgery in extreme cases
Prevention
Due to the fact that patella dislocations are a “out-of-the-blue” injury, preventative measures are only limited to strengthening the quadriceps muscle. Once a patella dislocation has occurred, the risk of a following patellar dislocation increases to 50% if no therapeutic measures are taken.
