Dislocated Knee

Piran Aliabadi, MD
B Leonard Holman, MD

November 8, 1995

Presentation

A 36-year-old man was involved in a car accident. He presented with severe right knee pain. He had marked deformity of the right knee with weak arterial pulse distal to the knee

Imaging Findings

AP radiograph of right knee

Lateral radiograph of right knee

Angiography

Anteroposterior and lateral views show anterior dislocation of the tibia and the fibula (arrows). No fracture is visible.

An emergency reduction of the dislocated knee was performed. A second radiograph showed normal alignment of the knee without fracture.

A weak arterial pulse remained below the knee. Angiography shows intimal tear of right popliteal artery (arrows). The patient was treated for the intimal tear.

Discussion

The most common dislocation of the knee is anterior. Popliteal artery injury is the most frequent serious complication of anterior dislocation. Peroneal nerve injury is a serious complication of lateral dislocation. Emergency reduction of the dislocated knee must be carried out to prevent permanent articular damage. A repeat radiograph of the knee should be taken after reduction to check the alignment and to look for fractures. If arterial injury is suspected, an emergency angiogram should also be obtained after reduction of the knee.

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