If your child has dislocated kneecap (also known as the patella), bedtime can trigger some anxiety.  What if your child manages to trigger more pain at night? What if they worsen their condition? 

Thankfully, there are ways to protect a dislocated patella while your child sleeps. POBAR is a well-known pediatric orthopedic medical facility in Brandon & Riverview, Tampa. POBAR will help your child achieve optimal orthopedic health!

In this post, we’ll share some of our top tips & treatment options for patellar dislocation and helping your child sleep well with a knee injury. 

Best Sleep Positions for Knee Injuries

When your child hits the hay, they need to sleep in a way that doesn’t add stress to their knee. To help them enjoy good quality sleep, keep weight off the injured knee by opting for light bedding,  and make use of cushions to gently support the area. 

Sleeping position 1: Back 

Back-sleeping could be the most comfortable option for your child. There’s little chance of them hurting their knee in this position. To help them nod off, place a pillow beneath the leg to add comfort and reduce any pain or swelling. 

Cushioning shouldn’t just be placed beneath the knee. Keeping the knee straight is vital for recovery, so add an extra cushion just below the ankle too. 

If your child has been fitted with a knee immobilizer, they’ll probably need to wear this to bed for a while (depending on the doctor’s orders). Sleeping on the back is the easiest solution when there’s an immobilizer involved! 

Sleeping position 2: Side  

Your child might feel more comfortable sleeping on their side. In this case (and if the injury allows for it), they’ll need to place a knee wedge pillow in between their legs, with the affected leg positioned on top to avoid exacerbating pain. 

There’s a slightly greater chance of your child hurting themselves on their side, so go ahead and add in that cushioning to protect the injured knee. 

Sleeping position 3: Sleeping in a recliner 

Sometimes, the pain can be a bit too much to bear and no sleep position seems like it’ll help. In this case, your child could sleep in a recliner. Recliners make it easy to keep the knee elevated and could be just what your child needs to sleep comfortably. Plus, they can be adjusted to suit!

Using Pain Medication 

It’s hard to sleep when you’re in pain. Make sure your child takes the painkillers recommended by an orthopedic pediatrician, or their pain levels could prevent them from drifting off. With an injured knee, tossing and turning isn’t an option either! 

To heighten their chances of getting restful and restorative sleep, do what you can to keep pain to a minimum. Give them their pain medication plenty of time before bed, so the tablets have a good chance of kicking in when they’re ready to sleep. 

Cold Therapy Before Bed 

Pain arising from swelling can be difficult to endure. To help bring the swelling down, consider icing the area. Place a wet towel over your skin and then add an ice pack on top for around 15 minutes. Be careful not to leave the ice pack on for too long (20 minutes max), and try not to place the ice directly onto the skin. 

Some people find it helpful to alternate between cold and heat. If you want to try heat, wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place it over the area for 15-20 minutes. See what works best for your child. 

Wearing the Knee Brace and Tightening it 

Despite how uncomfortable wearing a knee brace can be if your child has been told to wear a brace to bed — get them to wear it! These braces are designed to alleviate pain and stabilize joints. They may not be pleasant in the short run, but they can save your child a great deal of pain. 

To get the most from a knee immobilizer, make sure you tighten the straps before bed. A properly tightened brace keeps your child’s leg from slipping and causing them pain at night. The brace is designed to protect your child’s knee, so strap their leg right in. Be careful not to fasten their leg in too tight, however, or you could affect their circulation. 

Recovering From a Knee Dislocation 

Recovery time will depend on your child and their injury, but generally, a patellar dislocation can take around 6 weeks to heal. However, it may take a bit longer before your child can engage in sports again. To support your child’s recovery during this time, keep following your doctor’s advice. 

If your child has been given exercises to perform at home, encourage your child to complete them with you. They might be painful to perform, but it’s essential to move the leg to promote circulation. Plus, putting weight on the leg early on helps speed up healing. 

It’s also important your child keeps their leg elevated above the level of the heart when resting to reduce pain and swelling. Whenever they’re watching TV or relaxing, ask them to lift their legs.  

When Other Treatments are Needed

A child’s first dislocation is usually treated with a brace, exercises, rest, and pain medication. But if this isn’t the first, or if other structures have been affected, surgery might be on the cards. If this is the case, a child will usually have an MQTL reconstruction. After reconstruction, they’ll then wear the immobilizer for 2 to 3 weeks before starting their exercises. Most children can return to their full range of activities 3 months post-surgery. 

What To Do if You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Knee

If your child has an unidentified knee injury or their healing isn’t going as expected, always speak to a medical professional for help and advice. 

For Advice on Dislocated Kneecap, Speak to Our Pediatric Orthopedic Doctors in Brandon and Tampa, Florida 

We’re a friendly pediatric team based in Brandon and Tampa, Florida, and we’re pros at dealing with patellar dislocations and leg fractures. If your child has a knee injury and needs to see a medical professional, get in touch with us. 

At POBAR, we take your child’s health seriously and offer an incredibly high standard of care and knowledge. Ready to speak to one of our caring doctors? 

Book an appointment today!