Updated December 30, 2014.

A knee dislocation is an unusual and extremely serious injury. A knee dislocation occurs when the thigh bone and shin bone lose contact between each other. A knee dislocation is different from a patellar dislocation. A patellar dislocation, also called a "kneecap dislocation," occurs when the kneecap comes out of its groove on the end of the thigh bone.

How does a knee dislocation occur?
Knee dislocations are usually high-energy traumatic injuries.

These injuries can occur with automobile accidents, severe falls and sports injuries. A knee dislocation is often confused with a subluxation, but these are not the same injuries. A subluxation is a word used to describe a partial dislocation. This is the type of sensation that occurs when the knee "gives out" due to a damaged ligament. A knee dislocation is a more severe injury that occurs when the end of the thigh bone completely loses contact with the top of the shin bone. After the knee dislocates, it usually must be reset in to proper position, compared to a subluxation that will "slip" back in to position.

What happens when the knee dislocates?
When the knee dislocates, significant damage is done to the soft-tissues that surround the joint. The ligaments of the knee are always damaged when a knee dislocation occurs. Determining which ligaments are damaged is one of first steps of evaluating a knee dislocation. Almost always, both the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are torn.

In addition, the collateral ligaments, cartilage and meniscus can also be damaged. A knee dislocation is particularly concerning because of the damage that often occurs to the important nerve and vascular structures around the knee. In fact, vascular injuries can be so severe that the leg health can be threatened to the point of requiring emergency vascular surgery.

What is done when a knee dislocation is diagnosed?
Whenever a knee dislocation is suspected, X-rays are performed to evaluate if the joint is dislocated. If a dislocation has occurred, the joint will be repositioned, called "reducing the joint." Once the dislocated joint is reduced, your doctor will carefully evaluate and monitor the nerves and blood vessels that surround the joint.

In order to properly evaluate the blood vessels, your doctor may obtain special tests of the blood vessels (such as an angiogram) and possibly admit you to the hospital for careful monitoring of your blood vessels.

What is the treatment of a knee dislocation?
In the early stages after a knee dislocation, the priority is ensuring proper treatment of any vascular or nerve injuries. Once it is certain these structures are healthy, attention can be turned to addressing the ligament, cartilage and meniscus damage that occurred at the time of the dislocation. It is usually necessary to surgically reconstruct the damaged ligaments. Most often, multiple ligaments must be reconstructed. The most commonly reconstructed ligaments after a knee dislocation are the ACL and PCL. Areas of cartilage damage are repaired, and meniscus tears are either cleaned up or repaired.

Complications after a knee dislocation include issues related to nerve and vascular injury. The most common problems after knee dislocation are either knee stiffness or chronic instability of the knee. Adhering to your prescribed physical therapy of the knee joint will help you minimize the chance of developing one of these complications.

<sub>Source:

Rihn JA, et al. "The Acutely Dislocated Knee: Evaluation and Management" J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., September/October 2004; 12: 334 - 346.</sub>