Current Issue - July 2026, Volume 20, Issue No. 2

Superior patellar dislocation is a rare condition and is often misdiagnosed as patellar tendon rupture because of similar clinical features. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with known left knee osteoarthritis who presented acutely with the left knee locked in extension, associated with pain and effusion. Examination revealed an infrapatellar dimple, and plain radiographs demonstrated patella alta with tilting of the patella. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed superior patellar dislocation caused by an inferior patellar osteophyte locked against the superior trochlea. The patellar tendon was intact. Closed manipulation and reduction under sedation were successfully performed. A review of the literature identified hyperextension and direct trauma as the most common mechanisms of injury, with osteoarthritis recognised as an important risk factor. Closed reduction, performed under various forms of anaesthesia, was successful in the vast majority of cases. Rare recurrences were managed either by open surgery or arthroscopic intervention.

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