Acute Isolated Anterolateral Dislocation of the Proximal Tibiofibular Joint

Isolated traumatic dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint is rare. This injury may go unrecognized or be misdiagnosed at the initial presentation. Lack of clinical suspicion can cause diagnostic problems. The diagnosis requires an accurate history of the mechanism and symptoms of the injury, and adequate clinical and radiographic evaluation of both knees. Unrecognized cases are a source of chronic abnormalities. The treatment consists of closed reduction and immobilization or, in non-reducible or unstable cases, open reduction with temporary internal fixation. A rare case of isolated proximal tibiofibular dislocation in a basketball player is reported to illustrate this injury.