Achieve Mastery of Medical Concepts

Study for medical school and boards with Lecturio

USMLE Step 1     |     USMLE Step 2   |    COMLEX Level 1   |     COMLEX Level 2   |     ENARM   |    NEET

Create your free account
The Lecturio Medical Concept Library
Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease, or apophysitis of the tibial tubercle, is a common orthopedic condition seen in children between 10 and 15 years of age. The disease is caused by the repetitive application of mechanical forces on the knee, leading to microtrauma on the ossification Ossification The process of bone formation. Histogenesis of bone including ossification. Bones: Development and Ossification center at the site of insertion of the distal patellar ligament. Patients Patients Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures. Clinician–Patient Relationship present with localized knee pain Knee Pain Knee pain is a common presentation to primary care physicians. The diagnosis can be challenging as the pain may arise from the joint, surrounding tissues, or referred to the joint from distant structures. The differential diagnosis of knee pain is broad and categorizing the various diagnoses related to the timing (acute or chronic) is useful. Knee Pain, tenderness, and swelling Swelling Inflammation at the proximal anterior tibia Tibia The second longest bone of the skeleton. It is located on the medial side of the lower leg, articulating with the fibula laterally, the talus distally, and the femur proximally. Knee Joint: Anatomy. Diagnosis is clinical and treatment is focused on symptomatic relief. Osgood-Schlatter disease is a self-limiting Self-Limiting Meningitis in Children condition that resolves with skeletal maturity.

Last updated: 14 Jan, 2021

Editorial responsibility: Stanley Oiseth, Lindsay Jones, Evelin Maza

Contents

Overview

Definition

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an apophysitis, a painful traction injury, of the cartilage Cartilage Cartilage is a type of connective tissue derived from embryonic mesenchyme that is responsible for structural support, resilience, and the smoothness of physical actions. Perichondrium (connective tissue membrane surrounding cartilage) compensates for the absence of vasculature in cartilage by providing nutrition and support. Cartilage: Histology and bone Bone Bone is a compact type of hardened connective tissue composed of bone cells, membranes, an extracellular mineralized matrix, and central bone marrow. The 2 primary types of bone are compact and spongy. Bones: Structure and Types on the anterior, proximal tibial tubercle, where the distal patella Patella The flat, triangular bone situated at the anterior part of the knee. Knee Joint: Anatomy tendon inserts.

Osgood-shlatter disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease: a painful inflammation Inflammation Inflammation is a complex set of responses to infection and injury involving leukocytes as the principal cellular mediators in the body’s defense against pathogenic organisms. Inflammation is also seen as a response to tissue injury in the process of wound healing. The 5 cardinal signs of inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Inflammation of the tibial tuberosity Tibial tuberosity Leg: Anatomy caused by repetitive traction by the patellar tendon due to repetitive exertion, such as running or jumping

Image by Lecturio.

Epidemiology

  • Occurs in children 10–14 years of age: 
    • Boys: 12–14 years 
    • Girls: 10–13 years 
  • More common in teens who participate in sports that involve running or jumping (e.g., soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, sprinting, gymnastics, figure skating, and ballet)
  • More common in boys than girls
  • Usually occurs during periods of accelerated relative growth
  • Bilateral in 25%–50% of cases

Pathophysiology

Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs due to overuse injury.

  • Mechanical forces applied to the knee, especially during running and jumping, cause microtrauma to the patellar tendon.
  • Repetitive microtrauma leads to small chronic avulsions of patellar tendon at the point of insertion into the tibial tubercle.
  • Swelling Swelling Inflammation and ossification Ossification The process of bone formation. Histogenesis of bone including ossification. Bones: Development and Ossification of the distal patellar tendon at point of insertion into the tibia Tibia The second longest bone of the skeleton. It is located on the medial side of the lower leg, articulating with the fibula laterally, the talus distally, and the femur proximally. Knee Joint: Anatomy follow.

Related videos

7:44
Pediatric Orthopedic Leg Problems: Blount’s Disease, Legg–Calvé–Perthes Disease (LCPD), Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) and Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD)

Clinical Presentation

Osgood-Schlatter disease typically presents during early adolescence with the chief complaint of knee pain Knee Pain Knee pain is a common presentation to primary care physicians. The diagnosis can be challenging as the pain may arise from the joint, surrounding tissues, or referred to the joint from distant structures. The differential diagnosis of knee pain is broad and categorizing the various diagnoses related to the timing (acute or chronic) is useful. Knee Pain.

  • Knee pain Knee Pain Knee pain is a common presentation to primary care physicians. The diagnosis can be challenging as the pain may arise from the joint, surrounding tissues, or referred to the joint from distant structures. The differential diagnosis of knee pain is broad and categorizing the various diagnoses related to the timing (acute or chronic) is useful. Knee Pain:
    • Usually refers exclusively to tibial tubercle
    • Chronic, lasting weeks or months
    • No history of traumatic event Traumatic event An emotionally painful, shocking, stressful, and sometimes life-threatening experience. It can result from witnessing distressing events such as natural disasters, physical or sexual abuse, and terrorism or other acts of violence. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) marking beginning of symptoms
    • Aggravated by activity, especially jumping
  • Clinical exam findings:
    • Swelling Swelling Inflammation or increased prominence of tibial tubercle
    • Tenderness to palpation Palpation Application of fingers with light pressure to the surface of the body to determine consistency of parts beneath in physical diagnosis; includes palpation for determining the outlines of organs. Dermatologic Examination at area of swelling Swelling Inflammation
    • Pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways evoked when rising from squat or extending knee against resistance Resistance Physiologically, the opposition to flow of air caused by the forces of friction. As a part of pulmonary function testing, it is the ratio of driving pressure to the rate of air flow. Ventilation: Mechanics of Breathing
    • Findings can be unilateral or bilateral

Diagnosis

  • Clinical examination is usually sufficient to diagnose this condition. 
  • X-rays X-rays X-rays are high-energy particles of electromagnetic radiation used in the medical field for the generation of anatomical images. X-rays are projected through the body of a patient and onto a film, and this technique is called conventional or projectional radiography. X-rays may be taken to rule out other diagnoses:
    • Tumor Tumor Inflammation
    • Acute avulsion
    • Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that results from the spread of microorganisms from the blood (hematogenous), nearby infected tissue, or open wounds (non-hematogenous). Infections are most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Osteomyelitis
    • Other knee pathology
  • X-ray X-ray Penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted when the inner orbital electrons of an atom are excited and release radiant energy. X-ray wavelengths range from 1 pm to 10 nm. Hard x-rays are the higher energy, shorter wavelength x-rays. Soft x-rays or grenz rays are less energetic and longer in wavelength. The short wavelength end of the x-ray spectrum overlaps the gamma rays wavelength range. The distinction between gamma rays and x-rays is based on their radiation source. Pulmonary Function Tests findings may include:
Osgood-schlatter disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease: lateral radiograph of the knee demonstrating fragmentation Fragmentation Chronic Apophyseal Injury of the tibial tubercle with overlying soft tissue Soft Tissue Soft Tissue Abscess swelling Swelling Inflammation

Image: “Review for the generalist: evaluation of anterior knee pain Knee Pain Knee pain is a common presentation to primary care physicians. The diagnosis can be challenging as the pain may arise from the joint, surrounding tissues, or referred to the joint from distant structures. The differential diagnosis of knee pain is broad and categorizing the various diagnoses related to the timing (acute or chronic) is useful. Knee Pain” by Houghton KM KM KM is the substrate concentration at which half-maximal velocity (½ Vmax) is reached (KM is measured on the x-axis while ½ Vmax is measured on the y-axis). Enzyme Kinetics. License: CC BY 2.0

Management

Treatment

Most cases are treated successfully with relative rest and symptom management.

  • Reassurance Reassurance Clinician–Patient Relationship and education to the teen and parents: 
    • Explain that the condition is self-limited.
    • Discuss management and reasons to return or be reevaluated.
  • Control of pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways and swelling Swelling Inflammation:
    • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs NSAIDS Primary vs Secondary Headaches) or acetaminophen Acetaminophen Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter nonopioid analgesic and antipyretic medication and the most commonly used analgesic worldwide. Despite the widespread use of acetaminophen, its mechanism of action is not entirely understood. Acetaminophen for limited duration 
    • Application of ice for 15–20 minutes up to 2 times/day
  • Modification of activity:
  • Physical therapy Physical Therapy Becker Muscular Dystrophy: core, hip, and lower extremity stretching and strengthening exercises
  • Surgery:
    • Rarely performed
    • Excision of ossicle after closure of growth plate if pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways persists

Complications

The majority of patients Patients Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures. Clinician–Patient Relationship are asymptomatic after cessation of growth. Uncommon sequelae include:

  • Persistence of prominence of tibial tubercle, typically pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways-free:
    • Most noticeable cosmetic sequelae
    • Some patients Patients Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures. Clinician–Patient Relationship note discomfort with kneeling on prominence.
  • Residual ossicles occur in 10% of patients Patients Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures. Clinician–Patient Relationship; rarely cause persistent pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways that requires removal.
  • Rare association with genu recurvatum (knee hyperextension)

References

  1. Cassas, K. J., & Cassettari-Wayhs, A. (2006). Childhood and adolescent sports-related overuse injuries. American Family Physician, 73(6), 1014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16570735
  2. Ebraheim, N. A., Thomas, B. J., et al. (2019). Orthopedic surgery. In F. C. Brunicardiet al. (Ed.), Schwartz’s principles of surgery, 11th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
  3. Lawrence, J. T. (2020). The knee. In R. M. Kliegman, et al. (Ed.), Nelson textbook of pediatrics, pp. 361–3623.e1.

© 2021 Lecturio GmbH. All rights reserved.

USMLE™ is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB®) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®). MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN®, and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc (NCSBN®). None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Lecturio.

Study on the Go

Lecturio Medical complements your studies with evidence-based learning strategies, video lectures, quiz questions, and more – all combined in one easy-to-use resource.

Learn even more with Lecturio:

Complement your med school studies with Lecturio’s all-in-one study companion, delivered with evidence-based learning strategies.

START NOW FOR FREE

User Reviews

¡Hola!

Esta página está disponible en Español.

Versión en Español

🍪 Lecturio is using cookies to improve your user experience. By continuing use of our service you agree upon our Data Privacy Statement.

got it
Details