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Lateral Patella Dislocations: History, Physical Exam, and Imaging

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The Patellofemoral Joint in the Athlete

Abstract

Acute lateral patellar dislocations occur primarily in the second decade of life, affecting young active individuals. Concomitant injuries to the knee, including medial patellofemoral ligament injuries, are common, occurring in up to 90 % of patients. Recurrent instability episodes may occur in up to 44 % of patients and are dependent on the patient’s anatomy, particularly patellar position and trochlear morphology. A careful history and physical exam will help establish the diagnosis, with specific imaging studies often used to confirm the diagnosis and define the spectrum of concomitant injuries. Advanced imaging studies are also used to define objective measurements, patellar position, and trochlear shape, in order to determine recurrent instability risk and help guide surgical treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Suite R200, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    John Wechter M.D., Jeffrey Macalena M.D. & Elizabeth A. Arendt M.D.

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  1. John Wechter M.D.
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  2. Jeffrey Macalena M.D.
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  3. Elizabeth A. Arendt M.D.
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Correspondence to Jeffrey Macalena M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ctr. for Sports Med. & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Robin V. West

  2. Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA

    Alexis C. Colvin

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Wechter, J., Macalena, J., Arendt, E.A. (2014). Lateral Patella Dislocations: History, Physical Exam, and Imaging. In: West, R., Colvin, A. (eds) The Patellofemoral Joint in the Athlete. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4157-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4157-1_2

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