INSTRUCTIONAL ARTICLE

 

Acute dislocations of the knee

 

 

HR Hobbs^I; J Walters^II

^IRegistrar, Department of Orthopaedics. Groote Schuur Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
^IIProfessor and Head of Orthopaedics. Groote Schuur Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 

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SUMMARY

Acute dislocation of the knee is an uncommon but devastating injury. A high level of suspicion is needed in diagnosing it. Repeated neurovascular examinations are extremely important and even though it is wiser in our setting to do a routine angiogram, this is not a substitute for and does not exempt the patient from receiving a full neurovascular assessment. Outcome is better when the knees are treated surgically – immediately if there is vascular compromise, with the remainder being treated before two weeks as soon as the soft tissues allow. Anatomical restitution of the injured structures is the surgical goal. Avoidance of chronic persistent posterior subluxation and a controlled rehabilitation programme will yield best results.

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Correspondence:
Dr H Hobbs
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
H49 OMB
Groote Schuur Hospital
Observatory
7925
Cape Town

 

 

Presented at the Johnson&Johnson Registrar Congress, Durban, February 2009
The content and preparation of this article is the sole work of the authors. No financial assistance was or will be received for the preparation of this paper and no benefit will be derived from any commercial party.