Introduction

A dislocated kneecap is a common injury that normally takes about six weeks to heal.

It's often caused by a blow or a sudden change in direction when the leg is planted on the ground, such as duringsports or dancing.

The kneecap (patella) normally sits over the front of the knee. It glides over a groove in the joint when you bend or straighten your leg.

When the kneecap dislocates, it comes out of thisgroove andthe supporting tissues can be stretched or torn.

This page covers:

Symptoms

What to do

Treatment

Recovery

Repeated dislocations

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017