Introduction
You may not see a clinician for this injury, but this information leaflet should provide most of the information you need about your Patella Dislocation. Once the consultant has reviewed your X-Ray pictures, you may be called to clinic for a face-to-face appointment, but in most cases, you can be safely discharged home without further Fracture Clinic appointments. If you are discharged from clinic, you may be given a Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) appointment that allows you to request further appointments if you have any problems. Useful contact numbers can be found at the end of this leaflet. You may receive a telephone call from the fracture clinic about your injury, normally within 1 week of your attendance at the Emergency Department.
What is it?
Patella dislocation happens when the kneecap (patella) moves out of its normal position, to the outside of the knee. Often this occurs due to a direct blow to the knee or sometimes while twisting. This can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the knee.
Some people are prone to having multiple dislocations due to laxity in the joints (where the joints have an abnormal amount of flexibility) or an abnormality of the front of the knee that cause the patella to ‘track’ abnormally in the groove on the front of the knee joint.
Often the patella will go back into the joint spontaneously. At other times it may need to be helped back into place. Occasionally, these dislocations can be complicated by fractures around the patella or damage to the ligaments that hold the patella in place during normal movement.
How is it treated?
A first-time simple dislocation (without fractures) can be treated initially using the RICE treatment:
- Rest: Avoid putting weight on the injured knee.
- Ice: Apply ice packs to reduce swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Put the ice in a plastic bag and wrap in a towel.
- Compression: Use an elastic bandage, such as tubigrip, to support the knee.
- Elevation: Keep the knee raised to reduce swelling
The Emergency Department or Orthopaedic surgeon may refer you for physiotherapy to improve the range of movement of your knee and strengthen up the muscles to prevent dislocation in the future. You should try and maintain movement of the knee with gentle exercises.
Surgery
In severe cases, surgery may be needed fix any associated fractures or repair any damaged structures such as the ligaments that hold the patella in place during normal movement. If required, this will be discussed in a Fracture Clinic appointment once the clinician has reviewed your images.
Do I need pain relief?
Simple analgesia can be used in the first instance such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Stronger medications can be prescribed by the Emergency Department or Fracture Clinic if required. A brace is not normally required, but you can use a tubular compression bandage to help with swelling.
How long will it take to recover?
For simple dislocations, if you follow the advice, it should take around 6 weeks for the pain to settle. For more complicated dislocations it can take longer depending on the nature of the problem.
When can I return to work and normal activity?
Driving
Once you can control the vehicle safely without pain, including performing an emergency stop. You may have to inform your insurance company to let them know about the injury and that you are planning on returning to driving.
Work
Desk jobs: As soon as you can sit comfortably.
Physical jobs: Later, once you can tolerate your normal work activities for longer periods with minimal pain or fatigue.
Physical activity
You might want to start with low-impact exercises and gradually increase as tolerated. Avoid sports, especially the activity that caused the original dislocation, for at least 6 weeks following the injury.
Do I need follow up?
Your X-ray images will be reviewed in a Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) by a consultant or a member of team and one of the clinic nurses will call you with a treatment plan.
- Depending on the outcome of the clinic you will usually have one of the following:
- Face-to-face Fracture Clinic appointment: You will be seen by the consultant or a member of the team for a consultation about your injury.
- Telephone appointment: The Fracture Clinic consultant or nurse may call you for a consultation about your injury.
- Referral to Physiotherapy: The physiotherapists will provide advice and treatment for your injury. They may give you specific exercises for you to do at home.
- Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU): You may be discharged from the clinic, but we may give you a PIFU so that you can request further appointments should you continue to have problems after your injury. We will give you a number to call in this case.
Do exercises and physiotherapy help?
You will be referred to a physiotherapist after a first-time dislocation. They will monitor your progress and show you exercises that will:
- Restore movement.
- Strengthen the knee.
- Prevent future dislocations.
It is important to continue these exercises for at least 3 months after the injury to reduce the chances of having further dislocations. You can start exercising the knee at home using the advice below before the physiotherapist sees you. You should do the following exercises 3 to 4 times per day:
Quadriceps Sets: Sit or lie down with your injured leg straight. Tighten the muscles on the top of your thigh, pushing the back of your knee down towards the floor. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat 10 times.
Straight Leg Raises: Lie on your back with one leg bent and the other leg straight. Slowly lift the straight leg about 12 inches off the floor, keeping your knee straight. Hold for 2 to 3 seconds, then slowly lower the leg back down. Repeat 10 to 15 times.
Heel Slides: Lie on your back with both legs straight. Slide the heel of your injured leg up towards your buttocks, bending your knee as much as possible. Slide your heel back down to the starting position. Repeat 10 to15 times.
Hamstring Curls: Stand and hold onto a chair or table for balance. Bend your knee and lift your heel towards your buttocks as far as possible. Hold for a few seconds, then lower your foot back to the ground. Repeat 10 to15 times.
Calf Raises: Stand while holding onto a chair or table for support. Slowly rise up onto your toes, then lower back down. Repeat 10 to 15 times.
What if I need more information or help?
You can contact the fracture clinic directly if you have any concerns. If you have been given a PIFU you can contact the team to request further appointments. Please see the lists of contacts below:
Contact
If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the hospital for further advice.
Between the hours of 9:00am and 4:30pm contact the fracture clinic on:
Scunthorpe: 03033 302164
Grimsby: 03033 306127
Goole: 03033 304036
Out of hours – then please contact the Emergency Department via switchboard:
Scunthorpe/Goole: 01724 282282
Grimsby: 01472 874111
Any Comments, Compliments, Concerns or Complaints
If you have any other concerns please talk to your nurse, therapist or doctor. Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is available on 03033 306518 (Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole). You can also contact [email protected]
As a Trust we value equality of access to our information and services, therefore alternative formats are available on request at [email protected]
NHS Website
NHS website is a health information service. The aim is to support the public to become active consumers of healthcare rather than passive recipients, and to help individuals, their family or carers to make more informed choices: https://www.nhs.uk/
Review information
Date of Issue: December 2025
Review period: December 2027