The management of superior dislocation of the patella with interlocking osteophytes— an update on a rare problem

DKH Yip, JWK Wong
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

LK Sun, NM Wong, CW Chan, PY Lau
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong
The superior dislocation of the patella with interlocking osteophytes is a rare condition. A review of the English literature revealed only 12 reported cases. The purpose of reviewing these case reports is to highlight the unusual presentation and the injury mechanism in 2 of our patients, and to present our treatment algorithm. Closed reduction with manipulation of the patella, with or without anaesthesia, was performed without difficulty. We recommend an intermediate step of trying a regional nerve block before proceeding to general anaesthesia. Our patients had full range-of-motion after reduction and they were symptom-free after 3 years of follow-up. There were no recurrent dislocations in our patients.
 
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery2004;12(2):253-257
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Last update: 25 December 2004