Knee Care
Wisconsin Bone & Joint knee care experts offer comprehensive
services to individuals with a wide range of knee pain issues.
Unstable Kneecap
Knee Specialists At Wisconsin Bone & Joint
The physicians at Wisconsin Bone & Joint utilize cutting-edge technology to assess, diagnose and work with patients to develop innovative treatment plans for a variety of knee conditions and injuries. Our team of physicians are committed to providing you with the best treatment options to alleviate your knee pain.
Providing trusted Orthopedic care in the community for over 40+ years
At Wisconsin Bone and Joint, we pride ourselves with providing you highly personalized and comprehensive orthopedic care. Our philosophy of direct physician-to-patient care means your physician will be an intrical part of every stage of your care. This commitment to a dedicated continuum-of-care model has made us one of the most trusted and respected practices in Southeast Wisconsin and greater Milwaukee area.
Unstable Kneecap
What Is Unstable Kneecap?
As long as your kneecap (patella) stays in its groove in the knee, you can walk, run, sit, stand, and move easily. When the kneecap slips out of the groove, problems and pain often result.
What Causes Unstable Kneecap?
The kneecap connects the muscles in the front of the thigh to the shinbone (tibia). As you bend or straighten your leg, the kneecap is pulled up or down.
The thighbone (femur) has a V-shaped notch (femoral groove) at one end to accommodate the moving kneecap. In a normal knee, the kneecap fits nicely in the groove. But if the groove is uneven or too shallow, the kneecap could slide off, resulting in a partial or complete dislocation.
A sharp blow to the kneecap, as in a fall, could also pop the kneecap out of place.
What Are The Symptoms of Unstable Kneecap?
- Knee buckles and can no longer support your weight
- Kneecap slips off to the side
- Knee catches during movement
- Pain in the front of the knee that increases with activity
- Pain when sitting
- Stiffness
- Creaking or cracking sounds during movement
- Swelling
What Are The Treatment Options For Unstable Kneecap?
If the kneecap has been completely dislocated out of its groove, the first step is to return the kneecap to its proper place. This process is called reduction.
Sometimes, reduction happens spontaneously. Other times, your doctor will have to apply gentle force to push the kneecap back in place.
A dislocation often damages the underside of the kneecap and the end of the thighbone, which can lead to additional pain and damage to the cartilage on either the undersurface of the kneecap or covering the thighbone. Occasionally, a loose piece of cartilage is created. Arthroscopic surgery can correct this condition.
If the kneecap is only partially dislocated, your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatments, such as exercises and braces.
Exercises will help strengthen the muscles in your thigh so that the kneecap stays aligned.
Cycling is often recommended as part of the physical therapy. A stabilizing brace may also be prescribed.
The goal is for you to return to your normal activities within 1 to 3 months.
A chronic condition, in which the knee continues to be unstable, can often be corrected by surgery. For example, surgery can be used to realign and tighten tendons to keep the kneecap on track, or to release tissues that pull the kneecap off track.
Our team is here for you
When conservative care and treatment is appropriate, we offer the best, least invasive, least aggressive treatment options to relieve your pain and discomfort. When an injury is more serious and conservative care is not an option, our orthopedic surgeons provide the latest in innovative surgical interventions available with the goal of getting you back to the life you love. Wisconsin Bone & Joint physicians offer orthopedic services at three convenient locations in Mayfair, Glendale and Cedarburg.