The doctor’s exam will consist of a visual inspection of the knee, palpation and manipulation, looking for swelling and incorrect positioning or movement of the joint. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source The doctor will likely obtain an x-ray before you leave to make sure you have not broken or fractured anything. Approximately 10% of kneecap dislocations are associated with a kneecap fracture. [5] X Research source Bachman D, Santora S. Orthopedic trauma. In: Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 3rd, Fleisher GR, Ludwig S, Henretig FM. (Eds), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia 2006. p. 1525
The doctor will likely give you pain medication before manipulating your knee to minimize the discomfort. Generally he/she will follow this procedure with an x-ray to make sure everything is in the correct place. Again, it’s important to not try this at home as it is difficult to figure out which injuries need surgery or specialized treatments, and further damage can occur if this is not done correctly.
Elevate your knee Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 10 – 15 minutes Repeat four times per day for a few days after the injury
You can also take Tylenol (acetaminophen), but this will only treat the pain and not address swelling. Talk to your doctor if you feel that you need to continue using these medications for longer than a week.
In the meantime, it is important that you wear the brace as it will provide stability to the joint.
Expect your first follow-up appointment to be just a few days after the initial injury.
Even when your knee starts to feel better, you have to strengthen it the proper way to avoid re-injury and ensure a full range of motion. This can also help you avoid complications down the road.
Most of the time, a kneecap injury will require four to six weeks of healing before you can return to playing. [14] X Research source Kibler WB. The knee. In: American College of Sports Medicine’s Handbook for the Team Physician, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore 1996. p. 324.
