Knee dislocation

From WikiProjectMed
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Not to be confused with Patellar dislocation.

Knee dislocation
Plain lateral X-ray of the left knee showing a posterior knee dislocation[1]
SymptomsKnee pain, knee deformity[2]
ComplicationsInjury to the artery behind the knee, compartment syndrome[3][4]
TypesAnterior, posterior, lateral, medial, rotatory[4]
CausesTrauma[3]
Diagnostic methodBased on history of the injury and physical examination, supported by medical imaging[5][2]
Differential diagnosisFemur fracture, tibial fracture, patellar dislocation, ACL tear[6]
TreatmentReduction, splinting, surgery[4]
Prognosis10% risk of amputation[4]
Frequency1 per 100,000 per year[3]

A knee dislocation is a knee injury in which there is a complete disruption of the joint between the tibia and the femur.[3][4] Symptoms include knee pain and instability of the knee.[2] Complications may include injury to an artery around the knee, most commonly the artery behind the knee, or compartment syndrome.[3][4][7]

About half of cases are the result of major trauma and about half occur as a result of minor trauma.[3] In about half of cases the joint reduces itself before a person arrives at the hospital.[3] Typically there is a break of the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and either the medial collateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament.[3] If the ankle–brachial pressure index is less than 0.9, CT angiography is recommended to detect blood vessel injury.[3] Otherwise repeated physical exams may be sufficient.[2]

If the joint remains dislocated, reduction and splinting is indicated;[4] this is typically carried out under procedural sedation.[2] In those with signs of arterial injury, immediate surgery is generally carried out.[3] Multiple surgeries may be required.[4] In just over 10% of cases, an amputation of part of the leg is required.[4]

Knee dislocations are rare, occurring in about 1 per 100,000 people per year.[3] Males are more often affected than females.[2] Younger adults are most often affected.[2] Descriptions of this injury date back to at least 20 BC by Meges of Sidon.[8]

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms include knee pain.[2] The joint may also be obviously out of place.[2] A joint effusion is not always present.[2]

Complications

Complications may include injury to the artery behind the knee in about 20% of cases or compartment syndrome.[3][4] Damage to the common peroneal nerve or tibial nerve may also occur.[2] Nerve problems if they occur often never fully heal.[9]

Cause

About half are the result of major trauma and about half occur as a result of minor trauma.[3] Major trauma may include mechanisms like falls from a significant height, motor vehicle collisions, or a pedestrian being hit by a motor vehicle.[2] Cases due to major trauma often have other injuries.[5]

Minor trauma may include tripping while walking or while playing sports.[2] Risk factors include obesity.[2]

The condition may also occur in a number of genetic disorders such as Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, Larsen syndrome, and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.[10]

Diagnosis

As the injury may reduce on its own before a person arrives at the hospital, the diagnosis may be missed.[2] Diagnosis may be suspected based on the history of the injury and a physical examination.[5] This may include anterior drawer test, valgus stress test, varus stress test, and posterior sag test.[5] An accurate physical exam can be difficult due to pain.[5]

Plain X-rays, CT scan, ultrasonography, or MRI may help with the diagnosis.[2][9] Findings on X-ray that may be useful among those who have already reduced include a variable joint space, subluxation of the joint, or a Segond fracture.[5]

If the ankle–brachial pressure index (ABI) is less than 0.9, CT angiography is recommended.[3] Standard angiography may also be used.[2] If the ABI is greater than 0.9 repeated physical exams over the next 24 hours to verify good blood flow may be sufficient.[2][9] The ABI is calculated by taking the systolic blood pressure at the ankle and dividing it by the systolic blood pressure in the arm.[2]

  • CT angiogram 3D reconstruction, posterior view showing a normal artery on the left, and occlusion to right popliteal artery as a result of a knee dislocation[11]

    CT angiogram 3D reconstruction, posterior view showing a normal artery on the left, and occlusion to right popliteal artery as a result of a knee dislocation[11]

  • A Segond fracture seen on X-ray

    A Segond fracture seen on X-ray

  • A lateral dislocation of the knee

    A lateral dislocation of the knee

Classification

They may be divided into five types: anterior, posterior, lateral, medial, and rotatory.[4] This classification is based on the movement of the tibia with respect to the femur.[9] Anterior dislocations are the most common, followed by posterior dislocations.[2] They may also be classified based on what ligaments are damaged.[2]

Treatment

Initial management is often based on Advanced Trauma Life Support.[5] If the joint remains dislocated reduction and splinting is indicated.[4] Reduction can often be done with simple traction after the person has received procedural sedation.[9] If the joint cannot be reduced in the emergency department emergency surgery is recommended.[2]

In those with signs of arterial injury immediate surgery is generally carried out.[3] If the joint does not stay reduced external fixation may be needed.[2] If the nerves and artery are intact the ligaments may be repaired after a few days.[9] Multiple surgeries may be required.[4] In just over 10% of cases an amputation of part of the leg is required.[4]

Epidemiology

Knee dislocations are rare: they represent about 1 in 5,000 orthopedic injuries,[5] and about 1 knee dislocation occurs annually per 100,000 people.[3] Males are more often affected than females, and young adults are most often affected.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Duprey, K; Lin, M (February 2010). "Posterior knee dislocation". The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 11 (1): 103–4. PMC 2850837. PMID 20411095.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 Boyce, RH; Singh, K; Obremskey, WT (December 2015). "Acute Management of Traumatic Knee Dislocations for the Generalist". The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 23 (12): 761–8. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-14-00349. PMID 26493970.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 Maslaris, A; Brinkmann, O; Bungartz, M; Krettek, C; Jagodzinski, M; Liodakis, E (22 February 2018). "Management of knee dislocation prior to ligament reconstruction: What is the current evidence? Update of a universal treatment algorithm". European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology : Orthopedie Traumatologie. 28 (6): 1001–1015. doi:10.1007/s00590-018-2148-4. PMID 29470650.(subscription required)
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Bryant, Brandon; Musahl, Volkar; Harner, Christopher D. (2011). "59. The Dislocated Knee". In W. Norman Scott (ed.). Insall & Scott Surgery of the Knee E-Book (5th ed.). Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. p. 565. ISBN 978-1-4377-1503-3. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Lachman, JR; Rehman, S; Pipitone, PS (October 2015). "Traumatic Knee Dislocations: Evaluation, Management, and Surgical Treatment". The Orthopedic Clinics of North America. 46 (4): 479–93. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2015.06.004. PMID 26410637.
  6. ↑ Eiff, M. Patrice; Hatch, Robert L. (2011). Fracture Management for Primary Care E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. ix. ISBN 978-1455725021. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Medina, O; Arom, GA; Yeranosian, MG; Petrigliano, FA; McAllister, DR (September 2014). "Vascular and nerve injury after knee dislocation: a systematic review". Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 472 (9): 2621–9. doi:10.1007/s11999-014-3511-3. PMC 4117866. PMID 24554457.
  8. ↑ Elliott, James Sands (1914). Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine. Creatikron Company. p. 76. ISBN 9781449985219. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Pallin, Daniel J. (2018). "50. Knee and lower leg". In Ron M. Walls (ed.). Rosen's Emergency Medicine – Concepts and Clinical Practice E-Book. Robert Hockberger, Marianne Gausche-Hill (9th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 618. ISBN 978-0-323-35479-0. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Graham, John M.; Sanchez-Lara, Pedr A. (2016). "12. Knee dislocation (Genu Recurvatum)". Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Deformation E-Book (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-323-29494-2. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Godfrey, AD; Hindi, F; Ettles, C; Pemberton, M; Grewal, P (2017). "Acute Thrombotic Occlusion of the Popliteal Artery following Knee Dislocation: A Case Report of Management, Local Unit Practice, and a Review of the Literature". Case Reports in Surgery. 2017: 5346457. doi:10.1155/2017/5346457. PMC 5299179. PMID 28246569.
Retrieved from "https://mdwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Knee_dislocation&oldid=1392088"