page_title: Luxating patella
section_title: Diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Luxating patella / Diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: English: MRI after luxation of the right patella. There is bone bruise at the medial surface of the patella (axial image) and in the corresponding surface of the lateral condyle of the femur (coronal). The medial retinaculum of the patella is at least partially disrupted. Deutsch: MRT nach Patellaluxation am rechten Knie. An der medialen Seite der Patella (axiales Bild) und der korrespondierenden Seite des lateralen Femurkondylus (koronar), an der die Patella angeschlagen ist, finden sich Zeichen der Knochenkontusion. Das mediale Retinaculum der Patella ist zumindest partiell zerrissen.
context_page_description: A luxating patella, sometimes called a trick knee, is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location.
  Patellar luxation is a common condition in dogs, particularly small and miniature breeds. The condition usually becomes evident between the ages of 4 and 6 months. It can occur in cats, as well, especially domestic short-haired cats.
  It also occurs in humans, where it can be associated with damage to the anterior cruciate ligament.
context_section_description: Diagnosis is made through palpation of the knee, to see whether it slips inside the joint more than would normally be expected. Often, a dog owner might be told that his or her pet has "loose knee", but this is not a medical term, and it is not correct to use it interchangeably with luxating patella.
  Luxating patella cannot be present without the knee being loose, but a loose knee is not necessarily slipping out of the joint. Even with luxating patella, symptoms such as intermittent limping in the rear leg might be mild or absent. Physical examination and manual manipulation are the preferred methods for diagnosis. More extreme cases can result in severe lameness. Osteoarthritis typically develops secondarily.
  The four recognized diagnostic grades of patellar luxation include, in order of severity:
caption: MRI after luxation of the right patella: A bone bruise is at the medial surface of the patella (axial image) and in the corresponding surface of the lateral condyle of the femur (coronal). The medial retinaculum of the patella is at least partially disrupted.
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