If you’ve experienced a patellar (kneecap) dislocation and are looking for patellar dislocation treatment in Visalia or Hanford, we can help. Another way people often find us is by searching for patellar dislocation expert in Visalia or a patellar dislocation specialist in Visalia. Quick note, if you are looking for care in Hanford, we also have an office there.
Surgery And Nonsurgical Treatments Lead To Similar Outcomes For Patients With Knee Pain
As a specialist in the conservative treatment of kneecap dislocations, the information below is worth reading.
The knee is the largest and one of the most complex joints in the body. It is a hinge joint that’s responsible for bearing weight and allowing the leg to extend and bend back and forth with minimal side-to-side motion. It primarily joins the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia), but also includes the kneecap (patella) and other lower leg bone (fibula). The patella is a small, upside down triangle-shaped bone that sits in the front of the knee within the quadriceps muscle, and it’s lined with the thickest layer of cartilage in the body because of the massive forces it takes on.
These structures provide the knee with strength and durability, but the knee also has limits that can be exceeded under certain circumstances. Due to the frequent use of the joint, the knee is among the most common locations for pain and injury, with knee pain being the leading cause of disability in older adults.
Dislocations of the patella account for 2–3% of all knee injuries, which typically occur on the lateral side—outside of the knee—and leads to ruptures of the medial patellofemoral ligament in about 90% of all cases. These injuries are most common in sports, particularly basketball, soccer, and football.
It is unclear whether patellar dislocations should be treated with conservative (nonsurgical) interventions like physical therapy or if surgery is needed when there are other associated injuries. In addition, the literature comparing conservative to surgical treatment for first-time patellar dislocations is scarce.
However, this study that we outlined below is one of the first of its kind and points to the value of seeing a physical therapist first.
20 Patients Undergo Either Surgery or Conservative Treatment for Kneecap Dislocation
Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the outcomes of conservative versus surgical treatment for first-time patellar dislocations. Researchers recruited patients aged 15 to 40 years with a patellar dislocation in one knee, which led to 20 individuals being included. Twelve of these patients underwent surgery, which was limited to diagnostic arthroscopy followed by a soft-tissue repair of damaged structures, while 8 patients underwent conservative treatment. Patients in both groups were also treated with a brace that allowed for limited flexion and extension of the knee, along with partial weight bearing for 3 weeks, followed by full weight bearing.
Why Conservative Physical Therapy Care is Your Best First Choice – from the Patellar Instability Treatment Experts in Visalia and Hanford
Results showed that 25% of patients overall (5/20) sustained a redislocation, while the remaining 75% remained stable after 24 months. By group, 37.5% of patients (3/8) in the conservative group and 16.7% (2/12) in the surgical group experienced a redislocation; however, more patients (45.5%) experienced episodes of instability in the surgical group compared to the conservative group (37.5%). In addition, overall outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups, with a similar number of patients reporting “fair” and “good” final outcomes in both groups.
The Study Concludes You Should Strongly Consider Physical Therapy Care if You’re Looking for Patellar Dislocation Treatment in Visalia
Based on these findings, it appears that surgical and conservative treatment for patellar dislocations leads to similar results. Patients with a patellar dislocation should therefore attempt conservative treatment first, such as physical therapy, before considering surgery. Moreover, physical therapy treatment for kneecap dislocation is less likely to cause patellar instability in the future too!
If you’re dealing with knee pain that may be related to a patellar dislocation, Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy can help. We provide, natural, conservative care for rehabilitation after kneecap (AKA patella) dislocations at our offices in Hanford and Visalia.
