Knee Dislocation Following a Basketball Injury

Author: Ravi Tota Maharaj / Editor: Sarah Edwards / Codes: MuP2, MuP4, SLO5, TP7 / Published: 11/07/2025

A 17-year-old male presents to the emergency department (ED) following an injury sustained while playing basketball. He describes an awkward landing followed by a backward fall, resulting in injury to the posterior aspect of his head. Paramedics report there was a brief period of loss of consciousness after the fall. Upon attempting to stand, there was severe pain in his right knee and, thus, is unable to bear weight.

Assessment of his right leg reveals an obviously swollen and tender right knee with an unstable patella. His distal pulses and sensation are intact, and the capillary refill in each toe is less than 2 seconds.