Knee Dislocation
Medical term: Tibiofemoral Dislocation
Overview
A knee dislocation occurs when the tibia completely separates from the femur at the knee joint. This is a rare but extremely serious injury that involves tearing of multiple knee ligaments and poses a significant risk to the popliteal artery and peroneal nerve. Knee dislocations are most commonly caused by high-energy trauma such as motor vehicle accidents, but they can also occur during sports or from lower-energy mechanisms in patients with higher body weight.
Because of the risk of vascular injury, every knee dislocation requires urgent evaluation of blood flow to the lower leg. Many knee dislocations spontaneously reduce before the patient reaches the hospital, so a high index of suspicion is needed for any multi-ligament knee injury. Our San Diego trauma surgeons are experienced in the emergency management of knee dislocations and the staged surgical reconstruction that follows.