This week we discuss the tibio-femoral knee dislocation focusing on identification of the dangerous complications.
Episode 122.0 – True Knee Dislocations
Show Notes
Take Home Points
- Up to 50% of true knee dislocations will spontaneously reduce prior to arrival. Be suspicious of a dislocation in any patient who describes the joint moving out of place or if they have significant swelling, joint effusion or ecchymosis despite normal X-rays
- In all patients with suspected dislocation, perform a neurovascular exam immediately as popliteal artery injury is common. If they’ve got an absent DP or PT pulse, reduce immediately and get a CT angiogram as quickly as possible to assess for popliteal injuries
- If distal pulses are intact, you can either do ABIs and if normal, observe and repeat them or get a CTA. If the ABI is abnormal or the patient had an absent or decreased pulse at any point, get the CTA
Read More
OrthoBullets: Knee Dislocation
Radiopaedia: Knee Dislocation
EM: RAP: Obese Patient and Knee Dislocations
Core EM: True Knee and Patellar Dislocations
