Patellar Dislocations and Reduction Procedure

Acute patellar dislocations are a common injury occurring in adolescents involved in sports and dancing activities. This injury usually occurs when the knee is in full extension and sustains a valgus stress on the knee. The medial patellofemoral ligament is the medial restraint that assists in stabilizing the patella from lateral dislocations. The patella usually dislocates laterally and is usually not difficult to reduce after patient evaluation and prereduction radiographs. After postreduction radiographs confirm proper position of the patella postreduction and the absence of fractures, the patient is usually treated conservatively with initial immobilization, orthopedic referral, and physical therapy.