This week we discuss the tibio-femoral knee dislocation focusing on identification of the dangerous complications.
Core EM - Emergency Medicine Podcast Episode 122.0 – True Knee Dislocations
Nov 20, 2017
Dive into the complexities of true knee dislocations and the critical need for thorough evaluations. Discover how many of these injuries may spontaneously reduce and the telltale signs to watch for. The discussion emphasizes the importance of neurovascular exams to assess potential popliteal artery injuries. Learn the vital management strategies, including the role of CT angiography in identifying vascular damage and the protocols for timely interventions. It's a must-listen for those in emergency medicine!
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Spontaneous Knee Reductions
- Knee dislocations often spontaneously reduce before hospital arrival, making diagnosis tricky.
- Significant swelling or ecchymosis with normal X-rays should raise suspicion of a dislocation.
Urgent Neurovascular Exam
- Perform immediate neurovascular exams on suspected knee dislocations.
- Check pulses and nerve function to detect popliteal artery or peroneal nerve injuries early.
Low-Energy Dislocation Case
- A patient with a low mechanism injury had an obvious anterior dislocation easily reduced.
- Distal pulses remained intact after reduction, highlighting the variability in presentations.