Usually a child’s kneecap (patella) is located in a groove at the end of the femur. When the knee bends and straightens, the patella moves straight up and down within the groove. Sometimes, the patella slides too far to one side or the other. When this occurs, such as after a hard blow or fall, the patella can completely or partially dislocate. When the patella slips out of place, it typically causes pain and loss of function.
Even if the patella slips back into place by itself, it will still require treatment to relieve painful symptoms. In such situations, child should be immediately taken to doctor for a full examination to identify any damage to the knee joint and surrounding soft tissues. Causes There are several ways in which the kneecap can become unstable or dislocate. In many cases, the patella dislocates with very little force because of an abnormality in the structure of a…
