True knee dislocation after a crash: protecting the leg's blood flow
An orthopedic trauma surgeon and a vascular surgeon on protecting the leg
In a true knee dislocation, the thighbone and shinbone shift out of line with each other. It’s a different injury from a dislocated kneecap. If the knee slipped back into place before anyone saw it, it may look normal again. Even so, the artery and nerve behind the knee can be hurt. [1]
The emergency team checks the blood flow and how well the nerves work. An orthopedic trauma surgeon plans how to make the knee stable. A vascular surgeon, a blood vessel specialist, treats a damaged artery when needed. [1]
Ask what the team checked
Ask whether you needed a scan of the leg artery or repeated pulse checks. Find out what the pulses in your foot and the nerve exam showed. Ask which ligaments tore and whether the knee is stable in its current brace or frame. [1]
If you had an artery repair, keep that surgery summary with your orthopedic records. The two teams may need to work together on any later surgery. [1]
Get exact rules for the brace and movement
Find out whether you may put weight on the leg, bend the knee or take off the brace. Those rules depend on the injuries to your ligaments, blood vessels and nerves. Have a therapist watch you walk and handle stairs with the aid you were given. Ask when your swelling, motion and strength will be checked. Don’t test the knee’s stability by twisting or walking without the brace before the plan allows it. [1]
Changes in the foot are an emergency
Get emergency care if your foot turns cold, pale or blue. Go as well for pain that keeps getting worse or for new numbness or weakness in the foot. Report a calf or knee that swells quickly, too. One normal pulse check is no reason to ignore a new change. Tell the emergency team the knee was dislocated, even if it looks lined up now. [1]
Questions about your knee and leg
- Was the artery or the peroneal nerve hurt?
- What are my rules for the brace, bending and putting weight on the leg?
- Which team is coordinating the next procedure and therapy?
Put both teams' dates on one sheet
List your vascular and orthopedic appointments on a single page. Add the symptoms that mean you need to go back right away. [1]
Sources and further reading
Written from the view of orthopedic trauma and vascular surgery, this article is general education only. A true knee dislocation can put blood flow to the leg at risk. Any change in the color, temperature, feeling or movement of the foot needs urgent care.
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