Patellar dislocation occurs when your kneecap (patella) slips out of its normal position. The patella is located in a groove in front of the lower end of your thighbone (femur). This groove is called the patellofemoral groove. It usually occurs toward the outside of the leg.
What are the causes?
This condition is caused by:
Force.
Sports injuries.
Twisting the knee when the foot is planted.
What increases the risk?
This condition is more like to occur in:
Women.
People who play certain types of sports, including:
Sports that include quick turns or changes in direction, or where there is contact, like soccer.
Sports that require jumping, such as basketball or volleyball.
Sports in which cleats are worn.
People who have had this …show more content…
This may be done to make sure you have no loose cartilage in your joint.
How is this treated?
Your patella may move back into place on its own when you straighten your knee. If your patella does not move back into place on its own, your health care provider will move it back into place. After your patella is back in its normal position, treatment may involve:
Wearing a knee brace to keep your knee from moving (keep it immobilized) while it heals.
Doing exercises that help improve strength and movement in your knee.
Taking medicine to help with pain and inflammation.
Applying ice to the knee to help with pain and inflammation.
Having surgery to prevent the patella from slipping out of place or to clean out any loose cartilage in your joint. This may be needed if other treatments do not help or if the condition keeps happening.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a brace:
Wear it as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
Loosen the brace if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
Do not let your brace get wet if it is not