Osteochondritis Dessicans (OCD)

primary determinant of treatment is an age of the patient at presentation.

open physes classifies the lesion as the Juvenile form

etiology unknown

Most children who have juvenile osteochondritis dessicans and open physes can be successfully managed non-operatively.

OCD Treatment

Cahill proposed limitation of activities until the patient was free of symptoms as well as protected weight bearing with use of splints or crutches. He recommended that non-operative treatment be abandoned if symptoms persist for 3 months

pain disappears in an average of 8 months.

the classic location for OCD of the knee is the lateral part of the medial condyle

discontinue involvement in sports activities until pain has disappeared. conservative treatment is best for juvenile patients, with no difference shown between casting, bracing , PT, NWB or no treatment at all.

Herring JA:  Disorders of the knee: Tachdjians Pediatric Orthopaedics, 3rd ed., 789-838.

Sales deGauzy J: Natural course of OCD in children. J Pediatr Orthop Br 1999;8:26-28.

Hefti F:  OCD: A multicenter study of the European Pediatric Ortho Society. J Pediatr Orthop Br 1999;8:231-245

Cahill JAAOS 3:237;1995