Elliot Williams Underwent Successful Right Knee Surgery; Will Undergo Left Knee Surgery In 6 Weeks

Here's a press release from the Portland Trail Blazers regarding rookie guard Elliot Williams, who dislocated his patella on Nov. 3 while practicing with fellow rookie Luke Babbitt.

ELLIOT WILLIAMS UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY

PORTLAND, Ore. - Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams underwent successful surgery today to repair a dislocated right patella.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles with assistance from Dr. Don Roberts.

The first-year player will miss the remainder of the 2010-11 season.

Williams has experienced patellar subluxation in both knees in the past and will undergo surgery on his left knee in approximately six weeks.

Williams brieflly discussed his surgery with me last week.

According to About.com, "Patellar subluxation" refers to instability of the knee cap. 

What is patellar subluxation?

The kneecap slides up and down a groove on the end of the thigh bone as the knee bends. This groove is called the trochlea. The kneecap is designed to fit in the center of this groove, and slide evenly within the groove. In some people, the kneecap is pulled towards the outside of the knee. As this happens, the kneecap does not slide centrally within its groove.

Also called patellar subluxation, patients who experience an unstable kneecap have a kneecap that does not slide centrally within its groove. Depending on the severity of the patellar subluxation, this improper tracking may not cause the patient any problems, or it may lead to dislocation of the patella (where the kneecap fully dislocates out of the groove). Most commonly, the tracking problem causes discomfort with activity, and pain around the sides of the kneecap. Patellar subluxation is a condition that usually affects adolescent, and sometimes younger children.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter