“Congenital dislocation of the knee is a rare condition that is associated with a variety of other musculoskeletal conditions. Patients will show obvious hyperextension of the knee and imaging may show the anterior translation of the tibia on the femur. Ipsilateral congenital hip dislocation is present in 70-100% of cases. In the setting of a dislocated knee and hip, knee hyperextension makes treatment in a Pavlik harness difficult and nearly impossible. The knee should be promptly addressed with manipulation and serial flexion casting. With knee flexion obtained, the patient should then be placed in a Pavlik harness with the knee flexed as simultaneous treatment of the hip and knee.”
Clinical image of a newborn child with a hyperextended knee consistent with congenital knee dislocation.
