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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:

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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.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Revised	October 6, 2009

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 06, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.