Dislocated joints

What is a dislocated joint?

A dislocation is when a bone moves out of a joint. In the general population, this will usually be in the shoulder or fingers (as a result of a trauma). A dislocated hip may be seen in people who have had a hip replacement. In people with intellectual disabilities, spasticity and certain syndromes may result in dislocations or partial dislocations of the hip and kneecap. ⁵⁹⁴

What are the complaints associated with a dislocated joint?

A dislocated joint causes pain, malposition, the inability to use the joint and therefore restricted movement.

People with intellectual disabilities sometimes find it impossible to communicate pain. The people around them may then notice only a change in behaviour and a malposition.

How common are dislocated joints in the general population?

GPs see 0.1% of the population annually for dislocated joints. ³⁷³  This is an underestimate of the actual number because it does not include all the people who go directly to the hospital.

How common are dislocated joints in people with intellectual disabilities?

In a Dutch study of 119 children with spasticity, 3.4% had unilateral or bilateral dislocated hips. ³⁷⁴

In adults with spasticity, 15% were found to have a dislocated hip and 12% had a partial dislocation of the hip. ³⁷⁵

Dislocations of the kneecap are seen in, for example, the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. ^{376 , 377 , 378}
Down syndrome is accompanied by dislocated joints due to hypotension, hypermobility of the joints and loose ligaments. In addition to dislocated hips, dislocated upper vertebrae (atlantoaxial instability) have been seen. ^{379 , 380 , 381}