Patellar luxation is a traumatic injury that involves improper displacement of the kneecap or kneecap. Its severity depends on the characteristics of this displacement and the presence of other associated injuries.
The knee itself is a joint that suffers a lot in daily life, as it largely supports the weight of the body and is essential in countless movements. That is why it is not uncommon for it to have different conditions.
Patellar luxation is one of the most common injuries among athletes. It is usually quite painful and requires urgent medical attention.. It is often accompanied by other injuries.
What is patella luxation?
The kneecap is the bone responsible for protecting the knee. It also makes possible the biomechanical union of the quadriceps. This, in turn, extends vertically into a fissure in the femur. All of this structure is what allows the knee to bend and extend.
It should be noted that the kneecap is located within a cavity. When this bone moves or falls completely out of said cavity, patellar luxation occurs. If the displacement is not that large, it is called subluxation.
Patellar luxation, along with patellar chondromalacia, are the two most frequent patellar or patellar injuries. Dislocation has a higher incidence in children and young people between 10 and 18 years of age. It affects women more than men.
What are its causes and risk factors?
As a rule, patellar luxation is produced by a stroke or by a movement not appropriate. The most common thing is that the injury occurs when you make a sharp turn, when you have your feet firmly planted on the ground. It is also often the result of a fall or impact.
However, there are others as well indirectly predisposing and influencing factors why patellar luxation occurs. These are the following:
- Weak VMO. The MOV (vastus medialis oblique) is one of the muscles that make up the quadriceps. Its function is to keep the kneecap in its position during movement. When it is weak, it is a risk factor for patellar luxation.
- Flat feet. Flat feet cause misalignment throughout the body. Also, this predisposes the kneecap to pop out of its socket, with relative ease.
- Femoral angle larger than normal. The femoral angle, or Q angle, when very large causes the knees to be very close together. And this leads to the fact that extending the leg increases the risk of the kneecap falling out.
What are the symptoms of dislocation?
Many times the luxation of the patella is visible to the naked eye.. The person can clearly see that the bone has moved. However, this deformity is not always so obvious. Sometimes only swelling is seen in the area. Typical symptoms of patellar luxation are:
- very sharp pain. He doesn’t give in easily and is described as practically unbearable.
- Marked limitation of mobility in the knee.
- Sometimes it even occurs joint effusion with bleeding.
The diagnosis is made first from the story of what happened. Then, through a thorough exploration of the knee. It is always advisable to take an X-ray to rule out other injuries.like a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Is there a treatment? Which?
The first actions against a luxated patella are aimed at treating inflammation and pain. To do this, the following actions are usually applied:
- Rest. To begin with, reduce your mobility and walk on crutches.
- Applying ice packs. This helps manage pain and swelling.
- Elevation. Elevating the leg above the heart helps reduce swelling.
The faster the dislocation is reduced, the better the prognosis. Usually the doctor prescribes pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Also refers to physiotherapy so that the recovery process begins as soon as possible. The recovery plan takes from two to several months.
Finally, physiotherapy treatment includes measures such as applying a brace, installing a patella repositioning bandage and perform stretching and strengthening exercises. The normal thing is that the patient recovers his normal mobility, without sequelae.
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