Question:
My daughters knee frequently gives way or subluxes.
My 13 year old daughter has been dancing since she was 2. About 16months ago she fell on her left knee and had a minor tear in her inner medial ligament but with taping and physio seemed ok after a weeks rest. about 6 months later in May 2010 her knee cap slipped out and back in whilst she was doing a developpe in ballet. More Physio and taping and a few weeks rest and back to dancing. It subluxed again in August twice and then December. She has seen physios, an OT and a personal trainer to strenghthen her ligaments and had a CT scan that shows shallow patellar groves on both knees although she hasnt had any problems with her right knee. She is seeing a dance specialist physion at the moment who has said surgery will be necessary in a couple of years but she can dance presently with tape on. She is frightened by the clicking noises in her knee when she dances and the knee aches for a while afterwards but not extremely. What kind of surgery would she be looking at and how can she strengthen more in the meantime. She has been told to strengthen her butt and inner thighs.
Thanks
dance4eva
Asked by dance4eva - 1 answer - 1 year 11 weeks ago
dance4eva,
Its time for a referral to an orthopedic surgeon. Recurrent patellar subluxations make the tissues on the inside of the knee loose. I addition, everytime the patella slips out to the side, it grinds past the femoral head and can lead to bony damage (swelling/bruising) as well. If someone can come back from their first subluxation...great! If their first leads to a second,surgery is needed to reconstruct the medial patellar ligament.
Cheers,
tamara,
Submitted 1 year 11 weeks ago by tamaraOrthopedic & paediatric physical therapist