Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Medically Reviewed on 7/15/2022
Doctor's Notes on Dislocated Knee
A knee dislocation refers to the bones of the knee joint being out of place. The ligaments of the knee must tear for a knee dislocation to occur and allow the bones to take on an abnormal position. Knee dislocation is not a common injury. It is usually caused by a major trauma such as a fall, car crash, or other high-speed injury.
Signs and symptoms of a knee dislocation include
- a deformed or misaligned appearance to the knee,
- severe pain in the knee,
- inability or reduced ability to move the knee joint, and
- swelling of the knee.
Other associated symptoms in serious cases can include loss of feeling or sensation below the knee or loss of a pulse below the knee.
What is the treatment for dislocated knee?
The treatment for a dislocation of the knee includes reduction of the dislocation, or manipulation of the bones back into their normal position.
- Medications to control pain and aid in relaxation are typically given.
- Surgery may be needed if other injuries are also present.
- After restoration of normal anatomy, the knee is immobilized for a period of time in a splint.
- Physical therapy is often recommended following the injury.
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How Do I Know If My Knee Pain Is Serious?
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Is a Knee Replacement a Major Operation?
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Knee Injury
Knee injuries may be caused by a direct blow to the knee or by twisting or stretching of the ligaments, tendons, and surrounding muscles. Knee pain and swelling are common symptoms and signs of a knee injury. Treatment depends upon the type of knee injury but usually incorporates rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Strengthening exercises and physical therapy may also be necessary. -
Knee Joint Replacement
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Knee Pain
Knee pain has a wide variety of causes and treatments. Home care for knee pain includes protecting the knee from further trauma, in addition to resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the knee. In order to diagnose knee pain, the doctor may need to perform a physical exam; get a diagnosis with an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI; remove fluid; perform blood tests; or perform an arthroscopy. Treatment of knee pain depends upon the cause of the knee pain. -
Pain After Surgery
Though pain after surgery is common, there are ways to minimize and manage this pain. Treatment for pain after surgery can include over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs ibuprofen [Advil/Motrin]) and naproxen (Anaprox, Aleve), and opioids (morphine [Roxanol], fentanyl [Sublimaze], oxycodone [Percolone], and levorphanol [Levo-Dromoran]). -
Pain Medications
The effects of pain medication are different for each person. Pain also varies in tolerance as well from person to person. There are several different pain medications such as NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and narcotics. The most commonly prescribed narcotics are morphine (MS Contin, Avinza, Kadain, Oramorph), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone, M-oxy, ETH-Oxydose, Oxyfast, OxylR), fentanyl (Duragesic, Fentanyl Patch), oxymorphone (Opana), and methadone (Methadose) Narcotic pain medications can lead to physical addiction. Symptoms of physical addiction to narcotics include flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bone aches, feeling like you are "crawling out of your skin," goose bumps, chills, tremor, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms are all medical concerns and should be treated medically.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.