Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Volume 38, Issue 6 , Pages 237-250 , November 2009

Acute Knee Dislocation: Review of an Elusive Entity

  • Sangita Kapur, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Sangita Kapur, MD, Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 234 Goodman Street, Department of Radiology, PO Box 670761, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0761
    • ,
  • Robert D. Wissman, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
    • ,
  • Michael Robertson, MD

      Affiliations

    • United Imaging Consultants Inc., Mission, KS
    • ,
  • Sadhna Verma, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
    • ,
  • Michael C. Kreeger, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
    • ,
  • Robert J. Oostveen, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

References 

  1. Fithian DC, Paxton EW, Stone ML, et al. Epidemiology and natural history of acute patellar dislocation. Am J Sports Med. 2004;32:1114–1121
  2. Buchner M, Baudendistel B, Sabo D, et al. Acute traumatic primary patellar dislocation: long-term results comparing conservative and surgical treatment. Clin J Sport Med. 2005;15:62–66
  3. Andrish J. The biomechanics of patellofemoral stability. J Knee Surg. 2004;17:35–39
  4. Elias DA, White LM. Imaging of patellofemoral disorders. Clin Radiol. 2004;59:543–557
  5. Wiberg G. Roentgenographic and anatomic studies on the femoropatellar joint. Acta Orthop Scand. 1941;12:319–410
  6. Arendt EA, Fithian DC, Cohen E. Current concepts of lateral patella dislocation. Clin Sports Med. 2002;21:499–519
  7. Elias DA, White LM, Fithian DC. Acute lateral patellar dislocation at MR imaging: injury patterns of medial patellar soft-tissue restraints and osteochondral injuries of the inferomedial patella. Radiology. 2002;225:736–743
  8. Sanders TG, Morrison WB, Singleton BA, et al. Medial patellofemoral ligament injury following acute transient dislocation of the patella: MR findings with surgical correlation in 14 patients. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2001;25:957–962
  9. Hautamaa PV, Fithian DC, Kaufman KR, et al. Medial soft tissue restraints in lateral patellar instability and repair. Clin Orthop. 1998;349:174–182
  10. Sandmeier RH, Burks RT, Bachus KN. The effect of reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament on patellar tracking. Am J Sports Med. 2000;28:345–349
  11. Desio SM, Burks RT, Bachus KN. Soft tissue restraints to lateral patellar translation in the human knee. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26:59–65
  12. Insall J, Salvati E. Patella position in the normal knee joint. Radiology. 1971;101:101–104
  13. Grelsamer RP, Meadows S. The modified Insall-Salvati ratio for assessment of patellar height. Clin Orthop. 1992;282:170–176
  14. Laurin CA, Levesque HP, Dussault R, et al. The abnormal lateral patellofemoral angle: a diagnostic roentgenographic sign of recurrent patellar subluxation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1978;60:55–60
  15. Laurin CA, Dussault R, Levesque HP. The tangential x-ray investigation of the patellofemoral joint: x-ray technique, diagnostic criteria and their interpretation. Clin Orthop. 1979;144:16–26
  16. Dupont JY, Guier CA. Comparison of three standard radiologic techniques for screening of patellar subluxations. Clin Sports Med. 2002;21:389–401
  17. Murray TF, Dupont JY, Fulkerson JP. Axial and lateral radiographs in evaluating patellofemoral malalignment. Am J Sports Med. 1999;27:580–584
  18. Davies AP, Costa ML, Shepstone L, et al. The sulcus angle and malalignment of the extensor mechanism of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2000;82:1162–1166
  19. Merchant AC, Mercer RL, Jacobsen RH, et al. Roentgenographic analysis of patellofemoral congruence. J Bone Joint Surg. 1974;56:1391–1396
  20. Malghem J, Baudouin M. Depth insufficiency of the proximal trochlear groove on lateral radiographs of the knee: relation to patellar dislocation. Radiology. 1989;170:507–510
  21. Sanders TG, Medynski MA, Feller JF, et al. Bone contusion patterns of the knee at MR imaging: footprint of the mechanism of injury. Radiographics. 2000;20:S135–S151
  22. Lance E, Deutsch AL, Mink JH. Prior lateral patellar dislocation: MR imaging findings. Radiology. 1993;189:905–907
  23. Kirsch MD, Fitzgerald SW, Friedman H, et al. Transient lateral patellar dislocation: diagnosis with MR imaging. AJR. 1993;161:109–113
  24. Virolainen H, Visuri T, Kuusela T. Acute dislocation of the patella: MR findings. Radiology. 1993;189:243–246
  25. Sanders TG, Paruchuri NB, Zlatkin MB. MRI of osteochondral defects of the lateral femoral condyle: incidence and pattern of injury after transient lateral dislocation of the patella. AJR. 2006;187:1332–1337
  26. Fithian DC, Paxton EW, Cohen AB. Indications in the treatment of patellar instability. J Knee Surg. 2004;17:47–56
  27. Helms CA, Major NM. The knee and shafts of the tibia and fibula. In:  Rogers LF editors. Radiology of Skeletal Trauma. 3rd edition. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2002;p. 1111–1221
  28. Kennedy JC. Complete dislocation of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1963;45:889–904
  29. Brautigan B, Johnson DL. The epidemiology of knee dislocations. Clin Sports Med. 2000;19:387–397
  30. Twaddlle BC, Bidwell TA, Chapman JR. Knee dislocations: where are the lesions? (A prospective evaluation of surgical findings in 63 cases). J Orthop Trauma. 2003;17:98–202
  31. Marin EL, Bifluco SS, Fast A. Obesity: a risk factor for knee dislocation. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1990;69:132–134
  32. Varnell RM, Sangeorzan BJ, Johansen KH. Arterial injury complicating knee disruption. Am Surg. 1989;55:669–704
  33. Twaddle BC, Hunter JC, Chapman JR, et al. MRI in acute knee dislocation: a prospective study of clinical, MRI and surgical findings. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1996;78:573–579
  34. Green NE, Allen BL. Vascular injuries associated with dislocation of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1977;59:236–239
  35. Potter HG, Weinstein M, Answorth AA, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the multiple-ligament injured knee. J Orthop Trauma. 2002;16:330–339
  36. Shelboume KD, Pritchard J, Rettig AC, et al. Knee dislocations with intact PCL. Orthop Rev. 1992;21:607–608610-1
  37. Chhabra A, Cha PS, Rihn JA, et al. Surgical management of knee dislocations. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005;87:1–21
  38. Richter M, Bosch U, Wippermann B, et al. Comparison of surgical repair or reconstruction of the cruciate ligaments versus nonsurgical treatment in patients with traumatic knee dislocation. Am J Sports Med. 2002;30:718–727
  39. Yu JS, Goodwin D, Salonen D, et al. Complete dislocation of the knee: spectrum of associated soft-tissue injuries depicted by MR imaging. AJR. 1995;164:135–139
  40. Coates M, Stewart N, Morganti V, et al. Magnetic resonance findings in Knee Dislocation: pictorial essay. Australas Radiol. 2000;44:373–384
  41. Lonner JH, Depuy DE, Siliski JM. Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging with operative findings in acute traumatic dislocations of the adult knee. J Orthop Trauma. 2000;14:183–186
  42. Yu JS, Salonen DC, Hodler J, et al. Posteriolateral aspect of the knee: improved MR imaging with a coronal oblique technique. Radiology. 1996;198:199–204
  43. Reckling FW, Peltier LF. Acute knee dislocations and their complications. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004;422:135–141
  44. Giannoulias CS, Freedman KB. Knee dislocations: management of the multiligament-injured knee. Am J Orthop. 2004;33:553–559
  45. Rihn JA, Groff YJ, Harner CD, et al. The acutely dislocated knee: evaluation and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2004;12:334–346
  46. Meyers MH, Harvey JP. Traumatic dislocation of the knee joint: a study of eighteen cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1971;53:16–29
  47. Tomaino M, Day C, Papageorgiou C, et al. Peroneal nerve palsy following knee dislocations: pathoanatomy and implications for treatment. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2000;8:163–165
  48. Taylor AR, Arden GP, Rainey HA. Traumatic dislocation of the knee: a report of forty-three cases with special reference to conservative treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1972;54:96–102
  49. Liow RY, McNicholas MJ, Keating JK, et al. Ligament repair and reconstruction in traumatic dislocation of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2003;85:845–851
  50. Wong CH, Tan JL, Chang HC, et al. Knee dislocations—A retrospective study comparing operative verses closed immobilization treatment outcomes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2004;12:540
  51. Ogden JA. The anatomy and function of the proximal tibiofibular joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1974;101:186–191
  52. Resnick D, Newell JD, Guerra A, et al. Proximal tibiofibular joint: anatomic-pathologic-radiographic correlation. AJR. 1978;131:133–138
  53. Ogden JA. Subluxation and dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1974;56:145–154
  54. Sekiya JK, Kuhn JE. Instability of the proximal tibiofibular joint. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2003;11:120–128

PII: S0363-0188(08)00050-9

doi: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2008.06.001

Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Volume 38, Issue 6 , Pages 237-250 , November 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution