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It involves cartilage in the joint and can cause long term symptoms, pain and disability if not diagnosed and treated properly. It is most commonly seen in the knee, but can also be found in the ankle and elbow.

Causes

There are many reasons why osteochondritis dissecans occurs. Repetitive trauma or stress that happens to the bone over time is considered the leading cause. However genetics, nutrition and abnormal anatomy also play a role.

Symptoms

Common symptoms related to osteochondritis dissecans are:

• Pain, especially during weight bearing sports or physical activity

• Swelling

• Joint catching or locking

Diagnosis

To determine if your child has osteochondritis dissecans, our specialists will perform a physical exam that includes flexibility tests, stress tests, muscle tests and gait analysis. These tests will help our specialized team better understand your child’s condition, assess range of motion and identify abnormalities that might occur in bone alignment or muscle function.

After a physical exam, our specialists may also order imaging tests such as an our specialists may order imaging tests such as an X-ray, MRI, or computed tomography.

Treatment

Possible non-surgical treatments your doctor may offer or recommend to treat your child’s osteochondritis dissecans include:

• Prescription medications

• Physical therapy

• Steroid injections

• Crutches, splinting or casting for a short period of time

Our doctors and surgeons may recommend surgery if:

• The lesion is bigger than 1 centimeter in diameter

• The fragmented lesion has detached and is moving around in the joint

• Your child’s knee bones are done growing

There are different surgical methods your doctor may use such as:

• Fixing the lesion in place with pins and screws

• Drilling into lesion to create a pathway for new blood vessels to nourish the damaged bone

• Using bone and cartilage grafts to replace the lesion and regenerate healthy bone

Optimum surgical treatment is individualized with discussion between the surgeon and patient/family. There are different surgical methods your doctor may discuss such as:

• Fixing the lesion in place with pins and screws

• Drilling into lesion to create a pathway for new blood vessels to nourish the damaged bone

• Using bone and cartilage grafts to replace the lesion and regenerate healthy bone

At-Home Care

Common at-home treatment options for osteochondritis dissecans include:

• Icing the Area:

  Put ice packs wrapped in a towel or thin cloth on your child’s affected area for 20–30 minutes every 3-4 hours for the first 2-3 days. If pain does not go away, contact your healthcare provider.

• Elevating the Injured Limb:

  If your child has a broken leg, elevate it by placing it on a pillow when your child is lying down. Elevating it above the heart level can help reduce swelling and pain.

• Taking Non-Prescription Medication:

  Take a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen as recommended by your healthcare provider.

• Exercising:

  Your doctor may recommend doing exercises at home. These are designed to stretch the affected joint, maintain range of motion in the joint and strengthen your child’s joint.

When Will My Child Return to Play?

After your child has had a condition like OCD, it’s normal to want to know how long the injury will take to heal and what you can expect.

Every child is unique, every injury is different. Your doctor will be able to give you guidelines as to when your child may be able to return to play. In general, the healing time for an osteochondritis dissecans is a minimum of 3 months and will depend on the location, stage, and size of the lesion and your child’s symptoms.

How to Prevent OCD

• Limit sports participation to your child’s age as number of hours of participation per week

• Learn the proper mechanics and techniques for the sports your child plays

• Do not ignore symptoms during activities, seek medical care

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