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patella dislocation
Clinical manifestations:
- immediate pop may be noted
- patients often able to correct dislocation themselves
- large knee effusion preventing full knee extension
- tenderness to palpation over the medial patella
- positive patellar apprehension test
- patient stops examiner from pushing the patella laterally due to apprehension
Differential diagnosis:
- anterior cruciate ligament tear
- positive Lachman test
- medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain/tear
- medial joint line tenderness, joint swelling
- rarely large effusion
- medial meniscus tear
- McMurray test often positive
- effusions, if any, generally small
Related
patella (kneecap)
General
joint dislocation
References
- NEJM Knowledge+ Rheumatology