Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you’ve broken your leg [2]. Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have a dislocated kneecap [1]. A dislocated kneecap often moves back into place by itself. Even if it does, you will still need to get it checked by a doctor [1].
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you’ve broken your leg [2]. A dislocated kneecap often moves back into place by itself. Even if it does, you will still need to get it checked by a doctor [1]. This page covers both, using advice from the NHS (the UK’s National Health Service).
- What is a dislocated kneecap?
- What if I think I have broken my leg?
- When is urgent help needed?
- What should I do next?
What is a dislocated kneecap?
A dislocated kneecap is where your kneecap (patella) moves out of place [1]. It’s usually caused by an injury to the knee [1]. Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have a dislocated kneecap [1]. A dislocated kneecap often moves back into place by itself. Even if it does, you will still need to get it checked by a doctor [1]. If your kneecap does not go back into place by itself, a doctor may have to move it back [1]. Do not try to put the kneecap back into place yourself [1].
More on follow-up
After treatment, you’ll need to go to follow-up appointments to check your knee is healing properly [1].
What if I think I have broken my leg?
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you’ve broken your leg [2]. It can sometimes be hard to tell if a bone is broken. You’ll probably need an X-ray [2].
When is urgent help needed?
The list below covers the signs that should not wait for a routine appointment.
What should I do next?
If you think you have dislocated your kneecap or broken your leg, get medical advice as soon as possible [1][2]. For knee pain that is not settling, or if you are unsure what is causing it, an assessment is a sensible next step. The assessment brings together the patient’s story, an examination and any tests that help, so that the patient and the surgeon can decide together. It looks at the structure involved, the patient as a whole person and the goal they want to return to. An appointment supports an informed decision. It is not a commitment to surgery.
- Read about the Knee Hub.
- Read about the MPFL reconstruction surgery.
- Read about the fractures versus sprains.
This page provides general information and cannot diagnose an individual condition. OrthoKinetics does not provide emergency or urgent care through this webpage or its WhatsApp contact.
References
- NHS. Dislocated kneecap. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dislocated-kneecap/ (page last reviewed 10 March 2026).
- NHS. Broken leg. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-leg/ (page last reviewed 11 June 2025).
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