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Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of ossification centers of the bone. Ossification centers are the focal points of new bone development. The most common location of OCD development is the knee joint.
Because of the location of this problem, patients most often complain of pain and swelling of the joint. X-rays are usually taken to evaluate the extent of OCD, and often a MRI will be helpful to create a management plan. Treatment often consists of an arthroscopy to look into the joint and find defects on the surface of the bone. Treatment may include removal of damaged cartilage and bone, and sometimes a cartilage transplant is used.
Symptoms of osteochondritis dissecans are a direct result of the irregularity of the cartilage within the affected joint. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, and even locking of the joint so that its range of motion is significantly limited to the point that it cannot be moved beyond a limited range. For example, when osteochondritis dissecans affects the elbow, the joint may not move beyond 90 degrees of extension instead of being able to fully extend straight to 180 degrees.
There is no cure as such, but the condition can be treated by a variety of means depending on the size and location of the lesion as well as the age of the patient and the degree of symptoms. Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that is frequently used as a treatment to remove the loose cartilage and bone tissue from the joint.
Sometimes, especially in the very young (juvenile) form, osteochondritis dissecans can spontaneously correct itself.
Woodworth Orthopedics and Sports Medicine will help you decide how to best treat Osteochondritis Dissecans. Call Dr. Woodworth today at (702) 545-6194 for an appointment.
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