Patellar dislocation on X-ray: 7 real cases
Real, openly licensed radiographs showing patellar dislocation. Study what to look for, then open each case and read it yourself before revealing the answer.
What to look for
- The patella lies lateral to the femoral trochlea instead of within it.
- After reduction, look for an osteochondral fragment or a medial patellar avulsion.
- A tangential (skyline) view shows patellar tracking best.
Quiz yourself on lower limb images
Cases
Case #12355544Lower limb · Beginner
Case #12355570Lower limb · Beginner
Case #11989009Lower limb · Beginner
Case #27915069Lower limb · Beginner
Case #11989023Lower limb · Beginner
Case #7645730Lower limb · Beginner
Case #49147241Lower limb · BeginnerOther lower limb diagnoses
- Acetabular fracture
- Ankle fracture (lateral malleolus)
- Bimalleolar ankle fracture
- Calcaneal fracture
- Calcaneal spur
- Femoral shaft fracture
- Fifth metatarsal fracture (Jones / base)
- Hip (proximal femoral) fracture
- Hip dislocation
- Knee joint effusion
- Patellar fracture
- Pellegrini–Stieda lesion
- Stress fracture
- Tibial (and fibular) shaft fracture
- Tibial plateau fracture
Diagnoses come from each image's documented source. Credits and licences are shown on each case and on the image credits page.