A dislocated knee is a relatively rare injury in which the connection between the shinbone (tibia) and thighbone (femur) is disrupted. For this to occur, at least three of the four ligaments that stabilize the knee joint must be damaged.
Signs and symptoms of a dislocated knee injury include
- severe knee pain,
- deformity of the knee joint,
- knee swelling,
- foot numbness,
- an inability to flex the foot, and
- coldness of the foot.
If fractures occur, bone fragments may be visible through broken skin, and there may be bruising, bleeding, or other signs of injury.
Causes of knee dislocations
Significant trauma causes knee dislocations, and bone fractures sometimes accompany these injuries. Accidents, falls, or injuries in athletes may cause the trauma.
Other dislocated knee symptoms and signs
- Coldness of the Foot
- Deformity of the Knee Joint
- Foot Numbness
- Inability to Flex the Foot
- Knee Swelling
- Severe Knee Pain
Main Article on Dislocated Knee Symptoms and Signs

SLIDESHOW
Pictures of the 7 Riskiest Workout Moves, and How to Improve Them See SlideshowPictures, Images, Illustrations & Quizzes
-
Pain Management: All About Your Knees
They do their job so well that you might take them for granted. Learn how they're put together, what can go wrong with them, and...
-
Pain Management: Knee Pain Dos and Don'ts
Your knees go through a lot in the course of a day, and sometimes they can run into trouble. Here are a few things you can do...
-
Picture of Knee Joint
The knee joint has three parts. See a picture of Knee Joint and learn more about the health topic.
From 
Pain and Injury Resources
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Subscribe to MedicineNet's General Health Newsletter
By clicking Submit, I agree to the MedicineNet's Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet's subscriptions at any time.