Author: Hannah Rose

The dislocation of the patella is the dislocation of the kneecap sideways— either laterally, to the outward facing side of the leg, or medially, to the inward facing side of the leg. While the condition is rare, accounting for around 3% of knee injuries, acute patellar dislocations are painful health emergencies with long-lasting consequences if not properly treated. This is especially true in a wilderness medicine context: a patellar dislocation may create dangerous and even deadly scenarios in the backcountry, where long, complicated evacuation processes will prolong patient discomfort and the precarious wilderness environment may lead to further danger. Thus certified wilderness first responders are permitted to perform straightforward dislocation reductions in a backcountry setting to alleviate pain and assist evacuation.