Knee Dislocation

Description

Knee dislocation is a sprain (tear) of multiple ligaments, usually three of the four major ligaments of the knee. The four knee ligaments are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Knee dislocations usually require injury to both cruciate ligaments and one collateral ligament. Ligaments are structures that help maintain the normal relationship of the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (leg bone). They allow motion up to certain extremes, and any motion beyond these extremes results in ligament sprain. Injury to multiple ligaments results in difficulty in performing sports and even with day-to-day living.

Common signs and symptoms

• One or more pops usually heard or felt at the time of injury

• Inability to continue activity after the injury

• Knee swelling noticed within 6 hours after the injury; deformity of the knee

• Inability to straighten the knee

• Knee gives way or buckles; often, swelling with repeated giving way

• Locking when there is concurrent injury to the meniscus cartilage (occasionally)

• Rarely, injury to nerves (numbness, weakness, paralysis), discoloration, or coldness of the foot and ankle as a result of artery injury

Causes

Knee dislocation is caused by a force that exceeds the strength of the ligament. This injury usually is the result of a severe blow, although it may be caused by a noncontact injury, such as stepping in a hole in the ground, hyperextending the knee, and twisting.

Factors that increase risk

• Sports that require pivoting, jumping, or rapidly changing direction (basketball, gymnastics, soccer, volleyball); contact sports (football, rugby); and sports on uneven terrain (cross-country running, soccer)

• Poor physical conditioning (strength, flexibility)

• Improper equipment

Preventive measures

• Appropriately warm up and stretch before practice and competition.

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