Isolated acute dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint

Lesions of knee's lateral side are less common than medial injuries. The anatomy of the lateral ligaments and the presence of additional structures (eg, fibula head) can cause diagnostic problems. Isolated dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint is unusual; therefore, it may be overlooked in the emergency department. Many cases are missed due to failure of diagnosis. This type of injury is common in athletes whose sports require twisting motions of the flexed knee (eg, wrestling, parachute jumping, judo, gymnastics, skiing, rugby, football, soccer, track, baseball, basketball, racquetball, and roller-skating). Anterolateral dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint is seemingly rare in soccer players, as less than a handful cases have been reported in the literature. The diagnosis can be made by clinical examination, plain knee radiographs, and, sometimes, computed tomography (CT) scanning for further confirmation. Treatment usually consists of closed or open reduction. In complicated cases, however, arthrodesis or resection of the fibular head may be required. This article reports a rare case of acute isolated anterolateral dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint in a soccer player and discusses the joint anatomy, types of dislocations, mechanisms of injury, and treatment options.