Patella (Kneecap) Dislocation
A patella or kneecap dislocation occurs when the kneecap pops sideways out of its vertical groove at the knee joint.
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To learn more about the treatment of kneecap dislocation please keep reading. If you would like further information, feel free to get in touch using the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a kneecap (patella) dislocation occur?
Sometimes it is due to an awkward rugby or football tackle but more often it results from a variety of contributing factors. Many of these are to do with how your bones and joints have developed and grown. Some of the specific reasons include:
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High patella (“patella alta")
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Hypermobility or “double jointedness”
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Previous injury to your medial patella-femoral ligament
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Shallow grooves in your femur (Trochlear dysplasia)
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Less commonly: Rotational and angular deformities of the leg bones
Will it happen again?
Unfortunately, once a kneecap has dislocated studies tell us that 50% of patients will have a further dislocation. Even those that don’t have a further dislocation, may have ongoing discomfort and be worried about dislocating. This means that often people avoid activities where their kneecap feels unstable.
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If the kneecap keeps dislocating, it can damage the joint surface and lead to early arthritis.
How do we treat kneecap dislocation?
Many patients following a kneecap dislocation will only need a structured physiotherapy program to recover from this injury. However, some patients will require surgery to address the complications of dislocation and to reduce the chances of recurrent dislocations.
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The chosen surgery is designed to address the biggest reasons for kneecap dislocation in that patient. Examples include lowering the kneecap, reconstructing ligaments damaged at the time of dislocation, deepening the groove at the end of the femur and correcting deformities of the leg bones. Usually one or two of these procedures is required to stabilise the kneecap.