Professional paper

OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS OF THE KNEE

Saša Janković
Natalija Tomac

Abstract

In osteochondritis disekans, a poorly understood
disorder of the femoral condyle ossification center, a
portion of the joint surface softnes, shears, of separates
through of the articular cartilage and underlying bone.
This disorder is common, but not exclusive, in children
age 8 -14 years; however, it is an infrequent problem in the
adult.
The disease appears to be caused by a combination of
two factors:
1) mehanical shearing of injury from activity and
2) femoral condyle susceptibility (fragility) result
ing from immature ossification of the femoral
condyle.
The importance of each factor depends on age.
Athletic trauma seems more important in older children
and adults, while in younger children, ossification defects
render the femoral condyle more susceptible to minor
repetitive injury.
The diagnosis of juvenile osteochondritis of the knee
can be elusive because of mild simptoms in many patiens
presenting with this condition, physicans treating young
athlets must be constantly aware of the prevalance of
juvenile osteochondritis disecans in this group. Parents
and coaches of these children must also acquire high
awareness of the symptoms and signs.
knee, sports, osteochondritis dissecans

Keywords

knee; sports; osteochondritis dissecans

Hrčak ID:

4422

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/4422

Publication date:

4.7.2006.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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