Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Dislocation - kneecap; Patellar dislocation or instability
Symptoms
- Knee appears to be deformed
- Knee is bent and cannot straighten
- Kneecap (patella) dislocates to the outside of the knee
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Knee pain and tenderness Knee swelling - "Sloppy" kneecap -- you can move the kneecap too much from right to left (hypermobile patella)
The first few times this occurs, you will feel pain and be unable to walk. However, if dislocations continue to occur and are untreated, you may feel less pain and have less immediate disability. This is not a reason to avoid treatment. Kneecap dislocation damages your knee joint.
Review Date: 06/13/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief,
Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of
Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
