Dislocated Patella?

[Drbne313]

Hello everyone,

I dislocated my patella a week ago, and the orthopedic today said X-rays were neg. and I can walk with my immobilization brace on. He said he didn't need to do an MRI because he is certain I tore a ligament.

It was a full dislocation, patella on the outside of the knee and had to be reduced in the ER. Hurt like all hell.

I was wondering of anyone else has experienced this, how did they recover/ is it recurrent for you, and did you get back to playing hockey? I've played for 20 years and obviously want to keep going after recovery.

Any answers and advice is appreciated!

 

[Guffaw]

I have suffered from re-occurring subluxation/dislocation of my left patella since I was around 13 years old. I'm 39 now and it's probably happened 7-8 times in my life. Mine is simply genetic. My patellas are very lax, sit up higher on the femur, and my femurs don't have as much of an indentation as most so mine aren't in a groove. My left patella also tracks laterally when my quads tighten so i never had a chance.

How old are you and how many times has this happened?

Your ortho will give you options, but there are two basic paths. Surgery- usually if it keeps happening and you are young and active or strengthening and bracing. I chose not to have surgery when I was 16 and have gotten by with a brace and keeping my legs and VMO in particular as strong as possible. VMO is vastus medialis oblique and is the inner most head of your quad just to the inside of your kneecap. It's the "teardrop" muscle you see on bodybuilders. Squats strengthen it as do the last 30-45 degrees of leg extensions. My brace is called a "J" brace as it has a hard lateral J shaped support that holds the kneecap in place.

If you've played for 20 years and this is the first time I would focus on that VMO after rehab(6-8 weeks), wear a brace and you should be fine. Mine hasn't gone out from playing hockey in 4 straight seasons. Fingers crossed

 

[Drbne313]

Thanks for the advice!

I'm 24, and this is the first time. I think I may see another ortho for a second opinion, because I kind of want an MRI. For some reason I keep thinking that if more is known it can help me better in rehab. It kind of seems crazy to me that to ortho wouldn't want know if other ligaments are damaged and how bad they are.

Anyways, thanks again!

 

[ChiTownHawks]

I did this a couple springs ago when I was in Mexico, playing sand volleyball of all things. I dislocated it both ways so it fractured my tibia and my fibula and severely sprained my MCL. I did get an MRI, which showed some minor tears but no surgery was needed. My rehab was about 4 months before I was 90% and good enough to play.

 

[Guffaw]

Thanks for the advice!

I'm 24, and this is the first time. I think I may see another ortho for a second opinion, because I kind of want an MRI. For some reason I keep thinking that if more is known it can help me better in rehab. It kind of seems crazy to me that to ortho wouldn't want know if other ligaments are damaged and how bad they are.

Anyways, thanks again!

I've never had an mri after a dislocation. X-rays some of the times, but not always. In my case nothing else was injured other than your typical soft tissue being stretched etc.

Was it knocked out or did it just come out by twisting a certain way?

Rehab years ago was always 1-2 weeks immobilization, quad sets/leg raises for a week or so, then strengthening the muscles around the knee joint. The PT will emphasize the VMO.

My brace is made by Pro-Tec Athletics and is called the J-Lat Lateral Subluxation Support. It's worked very well. Just make sure you buy the right size. Too big defeats the purpose. You may not need it. I definitely do, but you may want to wear one for piece of mind.

Good Luck. It's not the end of the world. You'll be fine.

 

[Guffaw]

I did this a couple springs ago when I was in Mexico, playing sand volleyball of all things. I dislocated it both ways so it fractured my tibia and my fibula and severely sprained my MCL. I did get an MRI, which showed some minor tears but no surgery was needed. My rehab was about 4 months before I was 90% and good enough to play.

Mine went playing volleyball as well. Went for a block, knee to knee, and kneecap is on the side of my knee. It's a great feeling

 

[Drbne313]

Thanks Gufflaw.

How many times have you dislocated your knee?

I twisted mine, I'm pretty sure I hyperextended it while putting my weight on it.

 

[ChiTownHawks]

Mine went playing volleyball as well. Went for a block, knee to knee, and kneecap is on the side of my knee. It's a great feeling

Haha I did almost the exact same thing! I went up to block a shot and came down awkwardly. When I landed the knee cap dislocated one way and then the guy on the other side of the net hit it on the other side and dislocated it the other way. Nothing like a double dislocation to end your vacation on. The flight home was the best part. My knee looked like Ben Lovejoy's face from 24/7.

 

[Gibson19]

I've done the same thing. The first time was mountain biking and it popped back into place but caused a bunch of damage (now missing a chunk of cartilage off my femur and my meniscus was taking out cause it was so damaged). Spent 3 months on crutches with absolutely no weight on. After that the knee was about 90 percent of what it used to.

I wasn't playing hockey at the time but it took about 5 months after the surgery before I could comfortably do any serious sporting activities.

Hadn't been a problem since then, but I dislocated it again playing badminton a couple months ago and most recently playing hockey about a month ago. Both times again hurt like hell, but the patella slipped back into place so I only had to deal with swelling and pain. Haven't damaged the ligaments or anything, just had to wait for a week before I could play again. I think my case is a bit atypical though.

I am super prone to dislocation at this point and need to invest in a much better brace to keep it from happening.

Good luck.

 

[Guffaw]

Thanks Gufflaw.

How many times have you dislocated your knee?

I twisted mine, I'm pretty sure I hyperextended it while putting my weight on it.

Probably 7-8 times total, but only once on the ice as a goalie doing sprints just as I took off. At work, volleyball, wrestling, doing a cartwheel when I was 12 or so, playing street hockey, etc.

 

[Guffaw]

I've done the same thing. The first time was mountain biking and it popped back into place but caused a bunch of damage (now missing a chunk of cartilage off my femur and my meniscus was taking out cause it was so damaged). Spent 3 months on crutches with absolutely no weight on. After that the knee was about 90 percent of what it used to.

I wasn't playing hockey at the time but it took about 5 months after the surgery before I could comfortably do any serious sporting activities.

Hadn't been a problem since then, but I dislocated it again playing badminton a couple months ago and most recently playing hockey about a month ago. Both times again hurt like hell, but the patella slipped back into place so I only had to deal with swelling and pain. Haven't damaged the ligaments or anything, just had to wait for a week before I could play again. I think my case is a bit atypical though.

I am super prone to dislocation at this point and need to invest in a much better brace to keep it from happening.

Good luck.

Are you wearing a brace? The one I'm using is the best I've had.

Strengthening the vmo?

 

[Gibson19]

Are you wearing a brace? The one I'm using is the best I've had.

Strengthening the vmo?

I wasn't wearing a brace during the badminton. I thought it was fine. After that I wear a brace for any physical activity. It's a crappy brace though. Just straight up compression, not hinged or anything, closed patella which isn't helping anything either.

What would you recommend brace wise. Obviously able to fit underneath pads too. Ideally I'd like something pretty versatile that I can wear for hockey, other sports, and work

Haven't heard of strengthening the VMO. Just general leg straight. Definitely gonna look into it though

Thanks

 

[Guffaw]

I wasn't wearing a brace during the badminton. I thought it was fine. After that I wear a brace for any physical activity. It's a crappy brace though. Just straight up compression, not hinged or anything, closed patella which isn't helping anything either.

What would you recommend brace wise. Obviously able to fit underneath pads too. Ideally I'd like something pretty versatile that I can wear for hockey, other sports, and work

Haven't heard of strengthening the VMO. Just general leg straight. Definitely gonna look into it though

Thanks

From above. "My brace is made by Pro-Tec Athletics and is called the J-Lat Lateral Subluxation Support."

A hinged brace is for ligament issues and isn't really going to help much with a patella issue.

The VMO will help stop that patella from tracking to the outside. It's tough to isolate, but squats are great as are leg extensions during the last 45-30 degrees of movement. Rotate that foot to the outside and really squeeze for that final 30 degrees until when your leg is straight.