Dislocated knee treatment and recovery time

Published: June 2024

Last Reviewed: June 2025

Ever wondered if you can dislocate your knee? It's not your everyday injury, but when it does happen, it can be a big deal. A dislocated knee is a severe injury that needs quick medical help and comprehensive treatment to optimise recovery and reduce the risk of long-term complications. 

Read our article below to find out what a dislocated knee is, the symptoms, and what you can do to treat it.

A dislocated knee occurs when the bones in the knee joint get pushed out of place, which disrupts how the joint normally works. While it's not very common, knee dislocation is a serious injury that can impact your knee's function.

Depending on the force and impact on the knee, knee dislocation can happen in different ways. One of the most common types of dislocated knee is a kneecap or patella dislocation.

A dislocated kneecap is when your kneecap shifts from its normal position within the knee joint, often dislocating sideways (most common) or in other directions. This usually happens because of a strong hit, like a fall, bump, or wrong step. Although it might make walking difficult at first, it’s often easier to fix than a dislocated knee.

In some cases, a dislocated kneecap heals on its own, but it’s still recommended to go to a hospital for an X-ray to check for fractures.

When you dislocate your knee, it’s common to experience a range of symptoms that can be quite noticeable. Here are some common symptoms of a dislocated knee: 

• Immediate pains
• Sudden swelling
• Inability to move leg
• Instability
• Bruising
• Numbness or tingling
• Warmth or heat 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical help as soon as possible. 

As a dislocated knee is a severe injury, it often presents with visible signs. The knee joint may appear misaligned, with the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) displaced from their normal position. This misalignment can cause the knee to look twisted or bent in an unnatural direction. 

As mentioned above, swelling is a common symptom of a dislocated knee, and it is typically immediate and significant, as blood vessels and tissues are damaged. Bruising may develop shortly after the injury. In some cases, the knee may appear deformed, with bones or joints protruding, though this is not always the case. 

The treatment for knee dislocation varies depending on the severity of the injury. Some cases of knee dislocation require surgery, while others do not. To determine the appropriate treatment, you should first seek medical help to diagnose your injury. Immediate medical attention is recommended for a severely painful dislocated knee.

At the hospital, the medical team will give you pain relief medication and thoroughly check your knees. They will ask about the circumstances of the injury, examine the knee for deformities or swelling, and evaluate its range of motion. Additionally, your doctor may press on different leg parts to check for ligament damage, which helps keep your knee stable.  

Several diagnostic tests will be performed to determine the most suitable treatment plan:

• Ankle-brachial index test: This evaluates changes in blood flow by comparing ankle and arm blood pressure. Lower numbers may indicate circulation issues due to the dislocation.
• Electromyography: This test assesses your muscle and nerve function.
• X-ray: X-ray is used to confirm dislocation and detect any broken fractures.
• MRI: This imaging technique helps identify ligament and soft tissue damage. This will also guide the surgeon in rebuilding your knee. MRI or ultrasound can also detect nerve injuries associated with the dislocation. 

Treatment for a dislocated knee usually begins with urgent medical attention, as this type of injury can damage ligaments, blood vessels and nerves. The usual process often includes: 

1. Emergency Stabilisation: 
The priority is to stabilise the knee and assess blood flow and nerve function in the leg. If the knee has not moved back into place on its own, a healthcare professional will attempt manual repositioning of the knee, a process called reduction. 

2. Immobilisation: 
After the knee has been realigned, it is usually immobilised using a splint or brace to support healing and reduce swelling. Crutches may be necessary to keep weight off the injured leg. 

3. Surgery (if required): 
In many cases, particularly when ligaments are torn or blood vessels are affected, surgery is needed to repair internal damage and restore the knee’s stability. 

4. Rehabilitation: 
Recovery involves a structured physiotherapy programme to gradually rebuild movement, strength and flexibility. Depending on the severity of the injury, full recovery can take several months. 

A dislocated knee is a serious injury, and timely, professional treatment is vital to reduce the risk of long-term complications such as ongoing instability or restricted movement.

The recovery time for a dislocated knee can vary depending on the severity of your injury, associated injuries, and individual healing rates.

However, you can usually start walking with the affected knee within a few days. The recovery time can vary based on how severe the dislocation is, any related injuries, how well you heal, and how closely you follow your treatment plan and rehab exercises.  

Your doctor might recommend wearing a knee support for about two weeks to help it heal. If walking is painful, using a crutch can provide some relief. 

The Elastoplast Protective Knee Support provides relief to support dislocations, and weak or injured knees, helping to protect them from further injury. This support provides moderate support during activities, with adjustable compression to suit your needs. The 360° Support Technology ensures wraparound support and stability, Dynamic Pressure Adjustment reduces overstraining and relieves pain, and the Thermo-Tech material provides warmth to support circulation and recovery.

With breathable, flexible material, this allows for comfortable, all-day wear, promoting circulation without restricting mobility.

Learn how to put on a knee support here.

If you have a severe knee dislocation, it is usually recommended to use two crutches for seven to 10 days and to only put minimal weight on the foot with each step. After 10 days, most people can advance to one crutch for short distances. After three to four weeks, when you can comfortably bear weight with a hinge brace, you can start using just one crutch for a few more days, and then you won’t need crutches anymore.

Once your knee has dislocated, unfortunately, it’s more likely to happen again if it’s similarly injured. Accidents are hard to prevent, but there are some contributing factors that you can try to reduce the risk, like comprehensive rehabilitation, warming up thoroughly before exercise, and using a protective knee support.

It is important to diligently follow your physical therapy to fully recover from a dislocated knee. The exercises are intended to strengthen the muscles that stabilise your knee and improve its movement. Avoid putting excessive strain on the leg too soon and allow sufficient time for proper healing.

Learning and implementing correct techniques and body mechanics during sports, exercise routines, and daily tasks can significantly reduce sudden twists and impacts on knee joints.

Include stretching in your routine to keep flexible. It’s important to strengthen different muscle groups that support and stabilise your knee, so no single group gets overloaded. Stretching also helps each muscle group keep its full range of motion. Working with a physical therapist or personal trainer can help create a custom plan for long-term muscle health.

Reduce the risk of sudden knee injuries by wearing suitable protective gear such as knee supports during activities prone to knee stress, including sports like football, basketball, or skiing.

• For everyday activities, the Elastoplast Protective Knee Support provides protection and relief for weak or injured knees. You can adjust the compression level based on your personal needs.

There are various factors that could cause a dislocated knee, depending on someone’s lifestyle and occupation. Some of the most common ones are listed below:

Participating in sports activities, especially those involving sudden stops, changes in direction, or direct blows to the knee, can increase the risk of a dislocated knee. Due to the dynamic and often forceful movements required, sports like football, basketball, cycling, and skiing are more likely to cause knee injuries.

Car accidents can result in significant trauma to the knee joint, leading to a dislocation. The sudden impact in car crashes can cause the knee to twist or bend unnaturally, forcing the bones out of their normal alignment. The combination of high-speed collisions and the body's positioning during impact can contribute to severe knee injuries, including dislocations.

Falling directly onto the knee or landing awkwardly after a fall can cause enough force to dislocate the knee joint. Whether slipping on ice, tripping over an object, or falling from a height, the impact on the knee can exceed its normal range of motion, causing the bones to shift out of place.

Hard falls can occur in various settings, from everyday accidents at home or workplace mishaps to outdoor activities or recreational pursuits, so you should always use safety measures to avoid hurting your knees.

Excess body weight can place increased stress on the knee joint, potentially increasing the risk of dislocation, especially in combination with other risk factors.