What does patellar instability mean?
What does patellar instability mean?
Patellar instability means the patella (kneecap) slips out of the femoral groove in the thighbone. An unstable kneecap can lead to a dislocated knee. Physical therapy and leg braces can help. Some people have chronic (ongoing) patellar instability.
What are 3 predisposing factors for patellar subluxation dislocation?
Several demographic risk factors (age, skeletal immaturity, sex, bilaterality), mechanism of injury, and anatomic risk factors (trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, excessive tibial tubercle lateralization, increased patellar tilt) have been recognized.
What factors contribute to patellar stability?
Patellar height: the height of the patella also contributes to patellofemoral joint stability. Engagement of the patella depends entirely on patella height. Limb alignment: The angle between the pull of the quadriceps and the axis of the patella tendon (Q-angle) is very important.
What can cause patellar dislocation?
A dislocated kneecap can be caused by:
- A blow to the knee, for example if the knee joint collides with another person or object with great force.
- A sudden change of direction while the leg is still planted firmly on the ground, such as during sports or dancing.
- Weak leg muscles which puts pressure on the knee joint.
Why do knee dislocations happen?
A dislocated knee occurs when the position of the thighbone relative to the shinbone becomes disrupted at the knee joint. It can happen through trauma to your leg, like from falls, sports injuries, and car accidents. A dislocated knee is different than a dislocated kneecap.
What causes an unstable knee?
Knee instability is often caused by ligament injuries. You have four ligaments at the knee joint. Ligament injuries have different degrees of severity. They require the expertise of orthopedic specialists who develop treatment plans based on the type and severity of the injury.
What happens when you dislocate your patella?
When the patella dislocates, it’s forced outside of the trochlear groove and can no longer move up and down. This locks the knee and pulls the ligaments out of place, often tearing them. Most frequently (93% of the time), the kneecap pops out laterally, to the side of the groove.
Is it normal for my kneecap to move?
Injuries from sports, overuse, or trauma can cause the patella to move slightly off and not track properly in the trochlear groove. In most cases, the kneecap shifts to the outside of the leg, but it can also move towards the inside.
