Patellar dislocation: an uninvited guest on the sports field

Author: Lu Jingwei, Shanghai Tongji Medical College (Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University)

Reviewer: Cheng Biao, Chief Physician, Shanghai Tongji Medical College (Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University)

In the sports field, patellar dislocation is like an uninvited "uninvited guest", which may inadvertently cause trouble to people who love sports. Let's learn about patellar dislocation through a story.

Xiao Ming is a college student who loves playing basketball. He dreams of joining the school team and representing the school in competitions one day. However, during a fierce basketball game, Xiao Ming accidentally injured his knee joint when he jumped up to grab a rebound. He then felt a sharp pain, his knee joint was swollen, and he could not move normally.

Experienced teammates judged that Xiao Ming might have suffered from "patellar dislocation".

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1. The “culprit” of Xiao Ming’s patellar dislocation

- Trauma: In basketball games, intense physical confrontation and jumping actions may cause impact on the patella.

——Abnormal anatomical structure: Xiao Ming had an X-ray of his lower limb bones before, and the doctor said that his patella might be naturally smaller, which makes him more prone to injury during strenuous exercise.

——Unbalanced muscle development: Xiao Ming neglected the balanced development of his thigh muscles during his usual training, which resulted in uneven strength between his quadriceps and biceps femoris.

——Excessive exercise: In order to improve his basketball skills, Xiao Ming often performs high-intensity training without giving his body enough time to recover.

2. Xiao Ming’s “warning signal” of patellar dislocation

Xiao Ming has the following symptoms in his knee joint, which are typical manifestations of patellar dislocation:

- Severe pain: The pain in his knee joint was unbearable for him.

- Swelling: Rapid swelling and darkening of the knee joint may indicate a hematoma.

——Limited movement: The knee joint cannot bend or straighten normally, and walking becomes very difficult.

——Patellar dislocation: Xiao Ming’s kneecap does not seem to be where it should be.

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3. Timely treatment is key

Xiao Ming's teammates quickly took emergency measures and immediately sent him to the hospital. After the doctor examined him, he gave him the following treatment:

——First aid treatment: First, ice was applied and the injured leg was elevated to reduce swelling and pain.

——Reduction: The doctor used manipulation to reduce Xiao Ming’s patella to its normal position.

——Physical therapy: Xiao Ming received physical therapy (ice pack, ultrasonic therapy, etc.) and strengthened the muscle strength training around the knee joint to enhance joint stability.

——Surgical treatment: Since Xiao Ming’s patellar dislocation is quite serious, the doctor recommends surgical treatment (lateral patellar retinaculum release + medial patellar ligament reconstruction) to repair the damaged ligament and restore the stability of the patella.

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4. Strengthen prevention and prevent problems before they occur

In order to avoid patellar dislocation again, Xiao Ming took the following preventive measures:

——Proper warm-up: Before each training session, Xiao Ming will do sufficient warm-up exercises to reduce the risk of injury.

- Strengthen muscle strength and maintain coordinated muscle development: He began to pay attention to the balanced development of thigh muscles, especially strengthening the training of quadriceps.

——Avoid excessive exercise: Xiao Ming has learned to arrange his training plan reasonably, avoid excessive training, and give his body enough time to recover.

- Wearing protective gear: When playing basketball, he always wears knee guards to provide extra support and protection.

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5. Summary

Xiao Ming's story tells us that although the symptoms of patellar dislocation are serious, we can effectively reduce the risk of injury by understanding its causes, treatments, and taking appropriate preventive measures. A healthy body is the cornerstone of realizing dreams. While pursuing sports achievements, we must strengthen protection and protect our bodies.