Rare cause of knee pain after martial arts demonstration: a case report

Patellar dislocations are a commonly treated injury in the Emergency Department (ED), with a majority of cases involving lateral subluxation of the patella outside of the joint space. Intra-condylar dislocations of the patella are rare. Of the two types of axis rotation, vertical and horizontal, the vertical occurs five times less frequently. These injuries most often undergo open reduction or, at best, closed reduction under general anesthesia.

To remind Emergency Physicians to consider this injury in any patient with severe knee pain and limited mobility, even with a history that is lacking significant trauma.

We present a case of intra-condylar patellar dislocation with vertical axis rotation.

This injury is no longer primarily attributed to the young and, barring fracture, closed reduction in the ED should be considered.