The patella is the circular bone that sits in a groove directly below the thigh bone. It helps cover and protect the knee joint. This part of the body is commonly called the kneecap. If you’re dealing with patella dislocation, visit our office in Oklahoma City sooner rather than later.
While the patella is designed to withstand a lot of force, its location and flexibility makes it extremely susceptible to dislocation. Once the patella falls out of its groove, the knee will be unable to lock or move properly. The ligaments and muscles in the knee joint may also suffer damage. Since a dislocated patella will cause a lot of pain, you will instantly want to seek treatment in Oklahoma City.
The patella is an extremely thick bone, so it will take a traumatic event to cause a dislocation. The most common way to dislocate the kneecap is by attempting to quickly change directions with a bent leg, but any violent twisting motion or heavy direct impact to the knee can pop the patella out of its proper location. This makes athletes and anyone with weak muscles in the knee the most susceptible to this common medical problem.
It will be fairly easy to determine if you are suffering from a patella dislocation in Oklahoma City. The kneecap will look deformed after suffering a traumatic injury to the leg. You will also notice instant pain, swelling or numbness near the patella immediately after the injury. These symptoms will make it nearly impossible to walk normally without your knee giving out.
Our doctor will most likely be able to diagnose your patella dislocation just by looking at your knee during your appointment in Oklahoma City. Once your problem has been diagnosed, the doctor will then manually realign the patella to the correct position. Popping the kneecap back into place should almost instantly provide some relief to your painful symptoms. You will likely have to undergo an X-ray or MRI after the patella is repositioned to check for any structural damage to the knee joint.
While your knee will be fully healed after completing the treatment, you still may have to change some of your habits. Wearing a knee support while engaged in physical activity will reduce your risk of suffering another patella dislocation. If you follow all of the advice of the doctor, then you will be able to quickly recover from your patella dislocation in Oklahoma City without the threat of any long-lasting issues.
Schedule a consultation with us at Olsen Orthopedics to learn more. Contact us today to book your appointment in Oklahoma City!