CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Patella (kneecap) instability
- Rated ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ by 97% of orthopaedic patients
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care, as reported by PHIN
- Appointments confirmed within 24 hours
Jump to
PATELLA INSTABILITY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
At HCA UK, we’re No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care. If you’re experiencing knee pain, we can help.
We offer fast access to the latest diagnostic and imaging technology to ensure you get a rapid and accurate diagnosis. Our experts include some of the UK’s leading orthopaedic consultants and surgeons, who have vast experience of treating patella instability and kneecap dislocations. They’ll provide you with the most effective treatment for your condition and if you need surgery, this will be carried out by our specialist teams at one of our leading private hospitals.
We offer fast access to the latest diagnostic and imaging technology to ensure you get a rapid and accurate diagnosis. Our experts include some of the UK’s leading orthopaedic consultants and surgeons, who have vast experience of treating patella instability and kneecap dislocations. They’ll provide you with the most effective treatment for your condition and if you need surgery, this will be carried out by our specialist teams at one of our leading private hospitals.
The patella (also known as the kneecap) sits in a V-shaped notch at the end of the thigh bone (femur) called the trochlear groove. It slides up or down within the groove when you bend or straighten your knee. Patella instability occurs when your kneecap moves outside of the trochlear groove.
There are three types of patella instability:
There are three types of patella instability:
- Traumatic patella dislocation: The kneecap gets pushed completely out of the trochlear groove. This is usually caused by an injury to the knee.
- Chronic patella instability: The kneecap repeatedly slides partly out of the trochlear groove. This type of partial dislocation is called a subluxation.
- Complex patella instability: If the thigh or shin bone is an abnormal shape (malformed), this places greater stress on the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL), which helps keep the kneecap within the trochlear groove, making the kneecap unstable.
Patella instability can happen suddenly and with no warning, or after a strong blow to the kneecap pops it out of place. Symptoms can include:
- Pain, stiffness and swelling across the front and side of your knee
- A sensation of something ‘giving way’ or ‘popping out’, as well as buckling, catching or locking in the knee
- A visible deformity of the knee due to the kneecap moving out of position
- Difficulty standing upright, or straightening or walking on the affected leg
- Cracking or popping sounds in the knee when you bend it
- There may be a rapid onset of swelling in the first couple of hours after injury
Anyone can develop patella instability, but women are more prone to the condition than men. This is because women have more laxity (looseness) in their knee ligaments. As a result, the patella is not held in place as securely and is more likely to move out of the trochlear groove.
You may be at higher risk of suffering a traumatic injury that causes patella instability if you play high-impact sports, such as football or rugby, or take part in sports that require frequent pivoting, such as netball, tennis or dancing.
Certain underlying health conditions also put you more at risk of developing patella instability. These include malalignment conditions, such as knock knee, which cause the patella to move sideways and out of the trochlear groove, and conditions that cause loose connective tissue, such as cerebral palsy or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
You may be at higher risk of suffering a traumatic injury that causes patella instability if you play high-impact sports, such as football or rugby, or take part in sports that require frequent pivoting, such as netball, tennis or dancing.
Certain underlying health conditions also put you more at risk of developing patella instability. These include malalignment conditions, such as knock knee, which cause the patella to move sideways and out of the trochlear groove, and conditions that cause loose connective tissue, such as cerebral palsy or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Your chosen consultant will ask you about your medical history and carry out a physical examination of your knee, gently testing its range of motion. This will help them gain a better understanding of your condition.
To confirm a diagnosis, your consultant will arrange for you to have an X-ray or scan so they can look at your kneecap and the surrounding ligaments in more detail.
At HCA UK, we understand how important your time is, so you can have any required imaging carried out on the same day as your consultant appointment.
To confirm a diagnosis, your consultant will arrange for you to have an X-ray or scan so they can look at your kneecap and the surrounding ligaments in more detail.
At HCA UK, we understand how important your time is, so you can have any required imaging carried out on the same day as your consultant appointment.
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
10
specialist orthopaedic fields offering personalised treatment
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert orthopaedic treatments
from specialist knee consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
Worried about your knee pain?
Get in touch and book a same- or next-day GP appointment.
Have a referral and need to book?
If you already have a referral letter, it couldn’t be simpler. You can book a test or treatment directly.
Unsure of a diagnosis and need some answers?
We’re happy to help. Just book in and one of our consultants will talk you through everything you need to know.
ORTHOPAEDIC SCANS AT HCA UK
A diagnosis you can trust
Our diagnostic centres use state-of-the-art equipment to provide detailed images of your knee joint and the surrounding soft tissues. Your scan or X-ray will be reviewed by a specialist musculoskeletal radiologist and discussed with your consultant.
The scans we offer for patella instability, include:
The scans we offer for patella instability, include:
TREATMENTS FOR PATELLA INSTABILITY AT HCA UK
Expert care when you need it
The treatment you’ll need will depend on the severity of your patella instability, as well as the impact it has on your day-to-day life. Your consultant will talk you through the best treatment options for you.
Treatments include:
Treatments include:
- Rest and pain medication
- Knee support or brace
- Physiotherapy
- Patella stabilisation surgery
- Surgery to repair damage caused by patella instability
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
Patella instability FAQs
In some cases, especially if you play sports, patella instability can be prevented. You can minimise your risk by doing the following:
- Strengthening exercises: Strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, and other muscles around the knee can help stabilise the joint.
- Flexibility exercises: Improving your flexibility in your legs, knees and hips by doing stretching exercises regularly can reduce your risk of injury.
- Proper warm-up and cool-down: Preparing the muscles before and after an activity or playing sports can minimise the risk of strain and injury.
- Correct footwear: Make sure you wear suitable footwear when you play sport. Trainers should be sturdy, provide arch support and have good cushioning to reduce stress on the knee
- Wear knee braces: Braces can provide extra support during high-risk activities or when you’re recovering from a knee injury.
There are three main types of patella stabilisation surgeries. The type of surgery you’ll need will depend on the cause of your patella instability, as well as the extent of the damage your knee joint has sustained. The surgeries are:
- Trochleoplasty: This procedure involves reshaping the trochlear groove so that it holds the patella in place more effectively, preventing recurrent dislocations. It’s often performed when the groove is too shallow or abnormally shaped, a condition known as trochlear dysplasia.
- Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) reconstruction: The MPFL helps keep the patella stable in the trochlear groove. If the patella repeatedly dislocates or partially dislocates, the MPFL can become stretched or torn. This procedure involves replacing the damaged ligament with a tissue graft. It’s usually recommended if you’ve experienced repeated patella dislocation and helps stabilise the kneecap and prevent future dislocations from occurring.
- Knee osteotomy: This is a type of knee realignment surgery to treat malalignment issues that can cause patella instability. The procedure includes a Tibial Tuberosity Transfer (TTT). The tibial tuberosity is a small bump in the front of the shin bone and if this is misaligned, it can cause patella instability. A TTT involves removing the tibial tuberosity and reattaching it towards the inside of the knee using screws. This corrects malalignment, allowing the patella to track in a better position and helping prevent future dislocations. For patients with malalignment conditions of the leg bones, such as knock knees, a more invasive procedure called a tibial osteotomy may be required to reposition the leg bones at the correct angle. This involves cutting a section from the tibia and fixing it in place at the correct angle using metal plates and screws. This stops the patella from being pulled out of the trochlear groove.
Your consultant might recommend an operation for several reasons besides preventing further instances of partial or full dislocation of your kneecap, including:
- To remove cartilage that was displaced after a traumatic injury caused your patella instability
- To repair ligaments that were ruptured when your kneecap dislocated
- If a knee arthroscopy could help evaluate the amount of cartilage damage and the degree of instability present
- If you completely dislocate your kneecap
You won’t feel any pain during the surgery itself, because you’ll be given a general anaesthetic.
You’ll have a degree of pain in the days and weeks after your surgery, but how much will depend on your specific condition and the type of procedure you’ve had. You’ll be given support and detailed advice on how to manage your recovery, including any pain medication you’ll need.
You’ll have a degree of pain in the days and weeks after your surgery, but how much will depend on your specific condition and the type of procedure you’ve had. You’ll be given support and detailed advice on how to manage your recovery, including any pain medication you’ll need.
Everyone is different and it depends on the severity of your patella instability and the treatment you received. Non-surgical recovery can take several weeks to months and you may need to wear a knee support or brace during this time.
If you needed surgery, recovery can take several months. Our physiotherapy team will be on hand to support you throughout your recovery with exercises to help you regain strength and function in your knee.
If you needed surgery, recovery can take several months. Our physiotherapy team will be on hand to support you throughout your recovery with exercises to help you regain strength and function in your knee.
Our patients’ stories
From a limp to ultramarathons
In May 2022, Neil underwent a combined total knee replacement and simultaneous removal of the PVNS under the care of Mr Pollock at The Princess Grace Hospital. Initially incredibly nervous about the procedure and what his world could look like post-operation, life has completely changed.
Sarah-Jane’s return from knee injury
It was when she slipped on the dancefloor at an office party that 38-year-old Sarah-Jane finally realised something wasn’t right with her knee. A keen skateboarder and tennis player, Sarah-Jane had always led an active lifestyle, but never thought much about injuries.
How knee surgery got one avid skier back on the slopes
As a frequent skier and active young professional in the city, Gaëlle loves running and exercise classes to keep fit, but her love of these activities has come at a price – her knee. A previous skiing accident damaged her meniscus and her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and left her in so much pain that she couldn’t ski, so Gaëlle started looking around at treatment options.
“With hindsight, I should have dealt with my knee problems a long time ago. I’d say to anyone else in my position that if you’re not sure about anything, you should seek the help of a specialist.”
Reviewed by
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.