Osgood-Schlatter disease is a disease that affects young athletes - mostly boys aged 10-15 years who play football. The disease causes pain in the knee area and prevents further physical activity. What are the causes and symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease? What is the treatment?

Osgood-Schlatter diseaseis an aseptic tuberitis of the tibia, classified as a sterile bone necrosis.

Lumpiness is a slight thickening of the tibia that can be felt just below the kneecap. It serves as an attachment site for one of the ends of the patellar ligament, which is part of the common quadriceps tendon. This muscle allows you to straighten the leg at the knee.

Osgood-Schlatter disease - causes and risk factors

The causes of the disease are not exactly known. It is supposed that it may be the so-called Avulsion fracture (from overload) of the tibial tuberosity. Some people believe that the causes of the disease are the degradation processes of the patellar ligament, infections or injuries.

Age is a constant risk factor: the disease most often affects children between 10 and 15 years of age. Gender is also important - boys get sick three times more often than girls.

In addition, it has been noticed that some sports significantly increase the likelihood of disease at this age. These are athletics and football, although any exercise that extends the knee with a bend above 40 degrees can contribute to it (this explains why the disease does not appear in children who, for example, swim).

This type of exercise stresses the tuberosity of the tibia, which is weak in growing children and is particularly prone to damage.

If such an overload occurs, the consequence is the tearing of a fragment of the tibia, to which the patellar ligament is attached, and the development of inflammation within the tuberosity. The bone regenerates, but the tuberosity becomes thickened.

Osgood-Schlatter disease - symptoms

  • lump that appears under the knee where the quadriceps are attached to the tibia
  • knee pain that gets worse after running, walking or climbing stairs for a long time
  • tenderness, swelling, redness and warming of the knee
  • muscle tension in the legs, especially the quadriceps muscle

Osgood-Schlatter disease - diagnosis

Diagnosis is made with symptoms and an X-ray of the knee.

Osgood-Schlatter disease - treatment

First of all, relieve the knee so that the tissues can regenerate.

The patient should wear special orthoses that will limit the bending movement in the knee. If this is unsuccessful, it may be necessary to put the leg in a plaster for 3-4 weeks.

After healing, there is a thickening and reshaping of the upper tibia area

Pain can be relieved with ice packs and pain medications. Physical therapy is also helpful to speed up the healing process. Cryotherapy and a magnetic field are recommended.

In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary.

Category:

Spine, bones, joints