The kneecap is a type of bone called a sesamoid bone. This is a bone sitting in a muscle or tendon over the top of a joint, protecting it by sliding over it to cover the most prominent part of the joint as it moves. The kneecap sits in the muscle which forms the front of the thigh the quadriceps muscle.
Below the kneecap the quadriceps muscle becomes a tendon and attaches to the front of the shinbone. When dislocated it pops out of the groove - usually outwards away from the other leg laterally , still remaining attached to the muscle, which stretches and moves with it. A dislocated kneecap hurts and you may hear a crack or clunk.
There may be swelling, particularly the first time it happens. You will be unable to move the knee properly or walk. This dislocation does not generally represent a risk to major nerves and blood vessels. Kneecap dislocation tends to be repeated recur. The risk is higher if the quadriceps muscles are not particularly strong, so that they tend to be lax and allow sideways movement of the kneecap. The risk is greater if you are overweight.
Over time the dislocation may become less painful, as the stretched tissues are not damaged by the dislocation. Treatment of a dislocated kneecap Dislocated kneecaps often treat themselves, popping back into place before you even get to see a health professional. Over time if you have the condition recurrently it will become less painful and you may be able to put it back yourself. This is usually achieved by slowly straightening the leg - or allowing someone else to straighten it for you.
If this doesn't work, the kneecap dislocation can be put back by a qualified health professional. You will be offered physiotherapy afterwards to strengthen the quadriceps muscles. Dislocation of the knee joint itself rather than the kneecap, as described above is rare but can be catastrophic.
It is most likely to be caused by a road vehicle accident but can also happen in sports, particularly skiing. There is usually significant injury to the ligaments of the knee as well. See our separate leaflet called Knee Ligament Injuries for more information about injuries to the ligaments of the knee and how they are treated.
Treatment of a knee dislocation The knee might have gone back into place on its own at the time of the injury. If it has stayed dislocated it needs to be put back into place urgently but not before an examination has made sure the blood vessels aren't damaged and an X-ray has made sure that there are no fractures.
Damage to the main blood vessel popliteal artery that travels down the back of the knee is common and may require urgent surgery. Emergency surgery may also be needed if it is not possible to put the knee joint back in place. Non-emergency surgery is usually then needed to repair the ligaments that will have been damaged during the dislocation. Sudden hip dislocation is a medical emergency when it occurs in adults.
It is very painful and can result in significant bleeding into the joint and tissues. The hip is a stable joint, seated in a fairly deep socket and well protected by large muscles and strong ligaments. It takes a lot of force to pop it out and such severe force is likely to cause other associated injuries. What you have done may not be obvious by looking at the hip, since the bones are well covered with muscle layers so swelling and bruising may not be obvious.
However, you will be unable to stand or move your hip joint and, when lying down, the leg on the affected side will look shorter than the other. Most hips dislocate out backwards and when this happens the whole leg tends to turn inwards towards the other leg.
In addition, some adults have a shallow hip socket and develop recurrent dislocation, usually in later life when the supporting joints and ligaments are weaker. Treatment of a hip dislocation Patients with an injury causing a hip dislocation need pain relief and treatment for other injuries, which may include severe blood loss.
The hip dislocation itself will normally be put back under anaesthetic. The risk of damage to blood vessels and nerves is quite significant. There is a chance of permanent interruption of the blood supply to the ball part of the ball and socket joint.
This leads rapidly to arthritis of the hip. Traumatic hip dislocations therefore commonly lead to lasting disabilities. Dislocations following hip surgery and dislocations that are recurrent also require reduction under anaesthesia.
They tend not to be as traumatic, as they have not required the same amount of force to cause them. This is a common injury which can affect any finger joint but which most commonly affects the middle knuckle of the four fingers rather than the thumb. It is usually caused either by over-bending the finger backwards, or by jamming or catching the finger somewhere during fast movement.
Typically this happens:. It is usually obvious - the finger will be deformed crooked and swollen and will hurt. You won't be able to move it properly and it may go pale and tingle. Treatment of a dislocated finger You should see a healthcare professional if you have a dislocated finger. This is particularly urgent in the following cases:. You should also remove any rings swiftly, if possible.
This is because they may need to be cut off if a finger swells and the rings become too tight. A dislocated finger is usually put back in accident and emergency. It will probably be X-rayed. Ice is usually applied. Depending on the severity, you may be sent to see a hand specialist afterwards to make sure you get back the full use of your hand. This most commonly means dislocation of the outer end joint of the collarbone clavicle , where it joins with the top of the shoulder.
The ACJ is most commonly dislocated by a fall on to your arm when it is straight or on to the tip of the shoulder. It often occurs in physical 'collision' sports like rugby and football. It can also occur in sports that risk a fast or long fall, such as skiing and horse-riding.
The dislocation is painful. It may be easier to spot the change in the shape of the joint when the arm is held across the body. It can vary from a small separation of the joint to a wide one, which is more severe. Treatment of a dislocated collarbone Treatment of this dislocation depends on how severe it is. This is judged by how widely the bones have separated and how much damage there is to the ligaments. More severe injuries will need to be operated on surgical reduction and fixation.
However, less severe injuries are managed with physiotherapy and painkillers. The joints between your lower jaw and your upper jaw are called the temporomandibular joints TMJs. They can dislocate quite easily in some people, even when just opening the mouth particularly wide, yawning, kissing, or biting an apple. Pain is felt in front of the ear and it is difficult to open and close the mouth.
Usually the lower jaw dislocates forwards. However, in the case of a direct blow to the chin it may dislocate backwards. Treatment of a dislocated jaw The joint needs to be put back by a trained health professional. The main chewing muscles masseter muscles are very strong.
Once the jaw has dislocated they may be in spasm, so muscle relaxants are sometimes used. If the reduction proves difficult or there are other injuries, an anaesthetic may be needed. You will need to follow a soft diet as you recover from a dislocated or broken jaw, avoiding foods that are crunchy or particularly chewy. Wrist dislocation means dislocation of any of the eight small bones which make up the wrist. If necessary, begin CPR , or bleeding control.
Do not move the person if you think that their head, back, or leg has been injured. Keep the person calm and still. If the skin is broken, take steps to prevent infection. Do not blow on the wound. Rinse the area gently with clean water to remove any dirt you can see, but do not scrub or probe.
Cover the area with sterile dressings before immobilizing the injured joint. Do not attempt to put the bone back in place unless you are a bone specialist. Apply a splint or sling to the injured joint in the position in which you found it. Do not move the joint. Also immobilize the area above and below the injured area. Check blood circulation around the injury by pressing firmly on the skin in the affected area.
It should turn white, then regain color within a couple of seconds after you stop pressing on it. To reduce the risk of developing infection, do not do this step if the skin is broken. Apply ice packs to ease pain and swelling, but do not put ice directly on the skin. Wrap the ice in a clean cloth. Take steps to prevent shock. Unless there is a head, leg, or back injury, lay the victim flat, elevate their feet about 12 inches 30 centimeters , and cover the person with a coat or blanket.
Do not move the person unless the injury has been completely immobilized. Do not move a person with an injured hip, pelvis, or upper leg unless it is absolutely necessary. If you are the only rescuer and the person must be moved, drag them by their clothing. Do not attempt to straighten a misshapen bone or joint or try to change its position. Do not test a misshapen bone or joint for loss of function. Do not give the person anything by mouth. Whether you can get immediate medical attention or are hours away from help, there are basic things you can do for a dislocated shoulder.
Nursemaid elbow is a common elbow injury, especially among children and toddlers. Do you know the signs of a dislocated finger? We explain the symptoms and how this injury is treated. Shoulder subluxation refers to a partial dislocation of your shoulder.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. What Causes a Dislocation? Who Is at Risk for a Dislocation? What Are the Symptoms of a Dislocation? How Is a Dislocation Diagnosed? How Is a Dislocation Treated? How Can I Prevent a Dislocation? What Is the Long-Term Outlook?
Read this next. How to Identify and Correct a Dislocated Shoulder. Congenital Hip Dislocation. Tibiofemoral Dislocation. Broken or Dislocated Jaw. Shoulder MRI Scan.
Medically reviewed by Shuvani Sanyal, MD. Nursemaid Elbow. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Identifying and Treating a Dislocated Finger.
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