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First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

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Knee Dislocation Treatment

1. Call 911 or Go to the Emergency Room

2. Control Swelling

  • Ice the area.

 

3. Immobilize Dislocation

  • Immobilize leg above and below the injured knee. Cardboard, magazines, or other stiff material can be used as splints.
  • Do not try to push knee back into its original position. Manipulating a dislocated joint can cause severe injury.

 

4. Follow Up

  • At the hospital, a doctor will realign the joint, perhaps under anesthesia, and assess how much the dislocation has damaged the bones and surrounding tissues and blood vessels.
  • Treatment may include stabilizing the knee with splints. Surgery is sometimes necessary.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on September 27, 2011
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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