Arthroscopic view of an irreducible knee dislocation.

Abstract

Irreducible knee dislocation is a rare effection of the knee joint; only 23 cases have been reported in the literature. This is a case report of a 35-year-old man who injured his left knee in a motorcycle accident. Dislocation was documented on radiograph. His neurovascular status was intact. Attempts under sedation and anesthesia and even arthroscopy failed to reduce the dislocation. Eventually, the patient had open reduction of the dislocation. An arthroscopy view of the dislocation showed that the medial femoral condyle was buttonholed through the anteromedial capsule and retinaculum. Arthroscopy was an excellent tool for partial lateral meniscectomy and planning the open surgical procedure.