Tibiofemoral dislocation in Barranquilla, Colombia

What is a tibiofemoral dislocation?

It is a knee dislocation: the tibia completely separates from the femur. It should not be confused with a kneecap dislocation, which is more common and less serious. It results from high-energy trauma such as car accidents or falls from height, and sometimes contact sports.

Why is it an emergency?

Several ligaments are almost always torn, and the artery behind the knee or the peroneal nerve can be injured. An undetected artery injury can threaten the leg, even if the knee has already popped back into place.

What should you do?

Go to the emergency room immediately. There, the knee is put back in place, the pulse and blood flow in the leg are checked with vascular studies, and the nerves are assessed. Do not try to realign it yourself.

What is the follow-up treatment?

It usually requires surgery to reconstruct the torn ligaments, in one or more stages, and a long rehabilitation over several months to restore stability, motion and strength.

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