Knee Bone or Joint Injury
Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment
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Director at Flawless Physio
James McCormack is a Knee, Foot and Ankle Specialist Physiotherapist with over 10 years experience.
Alongside his clinical work he has created this website to provide free-to-read content for it's users.
Alongside his clinical work he has created this website to provide free-to-read content for it's users.
Latest posts by James McCormack (see all)
- Anterior Ankle Impingement - July 24, 2022
- Tarsal Coalition - October 12, 2022
- Sural Nerve Pain - October 3, 2022
What Age Does Osteochondritis Dissecans Occur?
Osteochondritis dissecans can occur at any age but is more prevalent in teenagers and adolescents from 10-20 years old. For this age group it is be termed juvenile OCD. Adult OCD occurs more commonly in young and middle aged individuals.
Is Osteochondritis Dissecans Genetic?
There is a mutation on the ACAN gene which can contribute to the development of familial osteochondritis dissecans. The ACAN gene provides the instructions for production of a constituent of cartilage of the joints, called aggrecan protein.
Aggrecan protein has two important functions:
- It provides tensile strength to the cartilage by attaching to other constituents of cartilage to form an organised structure.
- It is hydrophilic which means that water is attracted to the protein, this makes the cartilage have a more softer elastic consistency similar to rubber or gel (Gentili & Cancedda, 2009).
Is Vitamin D Deficiency Related to the Development of
Osteochondritis Dissecans?
Low vitamin D is linked with many joint disorders and poor bone health. There is a high prevalence of low vitamin D in individuals diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, so there is a strong association. It has been indicated that low vitamin D can make the bone beneath the cartilage of the joint more at risk of damage and detachment to the cartilage, and therefore more at risk of OCD lesions (Andriolo et al, 2020). However, there is not yet strong enough evidence to suggest a direct causal link between low vitamin D and the development of osteochondritis dissecans.
Is Osteochondritis Dissecans Painful?
Osteochondritis dissecans is a painful condition that can affect different joints, most commonly the knee, ankle and elbow. It has several distinct phases, with symptoms varying between these phases. OCD causes damage to the bone and ultimately the detachment of the bone and cartilage at the affected joint. It is a painful condition that causes inflammation and swelling of the joint and the final stage of separation of the bone and cartilage produces loose bodies which can be not only painful but also affect the function of the joint, making movement restricted.
How Long Does Osteochondritis Dissecans Last?
Osteochondritis can last for several months. If it is diagnosed early and severe damage is prevented it may fully recover in 3-4 months for children and young adults, while it can take longer for adults. In younger individuals complete recovery is more likely while in adults the development of osteoarthritis is common. Some adaptations to participation in sport may be necessary for high impact sports with repetitive actions such as cricket bowling or baseball pitching.
What Happens if Osteochondritis Dissecans is Left Untreated?
If left untreated osteochondritis dissecans will progress through the four distinct phases, ending with detachment of the bone and cartilage, and osteoarthritis. This detachment will leave fragment of the OCD lesion loose in the joint space which is not only painful but will significantly impair the function of the joint cause it to lock or give way.
Is Surgery Necessary for Osteochondritis Dissecans?
Surgery is more commonly needed the older the patient with OCD is. There is a greater chance of the OCD lesions healing if the growth plate of the joint is still open. Once the growth plate closes, when the skeleton has completed growth and is matured surgery is more commonly necessary for the treatment and recovery from osteochondritis dissecans (Winthrop et al, 2015).
How Successful is OCD Surgery?
Surgery is a successful treatment for osteochondritis dissecans for many individuals. The outcome of surgery is better the earlier the stage of OCD lesions that are treated. Younger age and less time since onset of symptoms are two other strongly influencing factors on better outcomes with surgery. Good biomechanics and the absence of previous injury to the joint also help a positive outcome with surgery (Zwingmann et al 2012).
Physiotherapy with James McCormack
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments for £45.