OT: dislocate kneecap

[mount lefroy]

My 18 yo son just dislocated his kneecap in practice. MRI on Thursday to check for any bone or ligament tears. Looked bad till they got it in place. He plays basketball.

Anyone had one of these and how long until you were back to playing strength?

 

[switchblade13]

no doctor but brewer outfielder Christian Yelich just broke his knee cap and is out 6-8 weeks. I'm just guessing if 'only' dislocated it would be less than that.

 

[mount lefroy]

no doctor but brewer outfielder Christian Yelich just broke his knee cap and is out 6-8 weeks. I'm just guessing if 'only' dislocated it would be less than that.

Thank you. I’m thinking 8 weeks unless there is bone or ligament damage, so that is good to know.

 

[Scrilla]

This used to happen to me every so often, mainly playing basketball. If I wasn't wearing a knee brace and it popped out, I would have to hit it until it popped back in. It sucked. I don't remember it keeping me out for an extended period of time though, maybe a day for the soreness to wear off and I would wear a knee brace for a while after that. Apparently it turned out the ligament on the inside of my knee was too loose, and the one on the outer part was too tight, so it would pull my kneecap over to the side of my leg. It popped out one final time walking out of Mugshots back in college and I couldn't get it back in so I went to the ER. Had surgery on it 6 months later and had no issues since, that was in 2006.

Not sure if that helps you , but that is my experience with it.

 

[mount lefroy]

This used to happen to me every so often, mainly playing basketball. If I wasn't wearing a knee brace and it popped out, I would have to hit it until it popped back in. It sucked. I don't remember it keeping me out for an extended period of time though, maybe a day for the soreness to wear off and I would wear a knee brace for a while after that. Apparently it turned out the ligament on the inside of my knee was too loose, and the one on the outer part was too tight, so it would pull my kneecap over to the side of my leg. It popped out one final time walking out of Mugshots back in college and I couldn't get it back in so I went to the ER. Had surgery on it 6 months later and had no issues since, that was in 2006.

Not sure if that helps you , but that is my experience with it.

This was my son playing basketball but I had a similar injury when I was 17 and you described my situation all most identically. Unless there is obvious damage, they probably won’t cut, but we’ll have to see. He grew a foot literally in the last 2 years and is now 6’3”. I’m a little concerned he is weak in his joints, but he does work out and is quite healthy. Thanks for the input. Glad basketball is 2 months away.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Probably 6-8 weeks. I'm suspect that surgery adds very little to that, other than the time between diagnoses and actual surgery. He's allegedly now 90+% likely to do it again to the same knee in his lifetime, although I'm 20+ years post dislocation and it hasn't recurred for me.

 

[jack straw.sixpack]

My 18 yo son just dislocated his kneecap in practice. MRI on Thursday to check for any bone or ligament tears. Looked bad till they got it in place. He plays basketball.

Anyone had one of these and how long until you were back to playing strength?

if no articular cartilage damage, and first time to happen, usually back 3-4 weeks, in general 50% risk of recurring. Physical therapy to speed it up and Probably play in brace most of fall.

If recurs will likely continue to happen with cartilage damage becoming progressive, so those need surgery, its a good surgery, low risk of recurring but out 4-6 months for full/safe recovery.

 

[snoopdog]

This happened to a baseball player at Tupelo last season...

Probably early March. Missed the regular season, which ended for Tupelo in early May. Was playing summer ball by June.

 

[woozman]

I’ve had that happen 3 times (golf, snow skiing, and drunk acting a fool). All when I was 18-22. Was usually good within 2-3 weeks, but I wasn’t going back to anything competitive.

It is an odd site to see your kneecap on the side of your knee, though. Pretty painful to straighten the leg and pop it back in place too...

 

[Drebin]

Relatively minor if there is no ligament damage. He may feel better quickly, but I'm sure they'll want him off it for some period of time.

 

[Scottfield1]

Knees

My 18 yo son just dislocated his kneecap in practice. MRI on Thursday to check for any bone or ligament tears. Looked bad till they got it in place. He plays basketball.

Anyone had one of these and how long until you were back to playing strength?

I’ve dislocated both my knee caps a total of 5 times in my 20’s. I never had surgery, but was typically back to being active after a couple of weeks. All five were different instances. My ortho said as long as there is no artery damage, surgery wasn’t required and I could continue being active; however, he explained to me your tendons are like rubber bands, once you dislocate the knee cap, the tendons stretch, increasing your odds of it happening again. Looking back, I wish I would have had it surgically tightened, because after the 5th time, I stopped being active and here came the weight.

 

[L4Dawg]

My niece had it happen several times. She eventually had surgery for it. It was not fun. It was painful and the rehab was long. She decided not to risk athletics again.

 

[Pars]

Hear there’s a knee doc that reads the board. No comment if he’s good or bad though

 

[jdbulldog]

My 18 yo son just dislocated his kneecap in practice. MRI on Thursday to check for any bone or ligament tears. Looked bad till they got it in place. He plays basketball.

Anyone had one of these and how long until you were back to playing strength?

Probably will be on rest for 2-3 weeks if no structural damage. A brace can add stability and confidence. The surgery option, while very successful, will require extensive rehab time (generally 4-6 months).

 

[goodknight]

No but my son fractured a kneecap

half way through baseball his senior season it finished baseball for him. Recruiting stopped and juco walk-on was his only option. Hardest thing for him was hanging up the cleats.

 

[mount lefroy]

Got some very good news: Slight tear of MPFL so no surgery. 6 weeks therapy and he will wear a brace during the season. Just got to keep him diligent about the therapy. Thanks to all who posted and let me know your experiences. That was a great relief to a father knowing what to expect.

Outstanding job sixpack!

Lefroy

 

[jdbulldog]

Just make absolutely sure he is diligent with therapy and the brace is a must. He will feel much better in a couple of weeks and will have the temptation to try it without the brace. Big mistake if he does.

 

[mount lefroy]

Just make absolutely sure he is diligent with therapy and the brace is a must. He will feel much better in a couple of weeks and will have the temptation to try it without the brace. Big mistake if he does.

You are absolutely right. And I will make damn sure of it.