Osgood-Schlatter Disease

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[edit] Osgood-Schlatter Disease

The athletically minded aged 10 to 15 year old youngster can get a pain on one side of the knee. The pain is localized at the insertion of the quadriceps tendon (patellar tendon) at the "tibial tubercle". This anatomical location is at the upper end of the tibia bone.

As the bone is still growing at this age, the growth plate in this location experiences a growth plate injury much easier with excessive traction from resisted knee extension. Running, soccer playing and other sports are all high risk activities in this age group.

Knee X-rays taken from the side show a profile of this area and demonstrate fragmentation of the tibial tubercle allowing the physician to diagnose Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease consists of rest, avoiding the sport that precipitated this including excessive exercises that would have involved resisted knee extension. Unfortunately it takes often several weeks or even months before Osgood-Schlatter disease heals, but it usually heals without any complications. More complicated or chronic forms need attention from an orthopedic surgeon. Suregery is rarely required (Ref.3, p. 2414).

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References:

1. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 157.

2. ABC of rheumatology, second edition, edited by Michael L. Snaith , M.D., BMJ Books, 1999. Chapter 4.

3. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 270.

4. Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics: http://www.wheelessonline.com/

5. Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed.(©2000)W.B.Saunders

6. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.

7. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier