Osteochondritis dissecans F/P up from . Thanks, the article was A+

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jill, this article you put in, pretty much hits my son's case on the

nail.

" ...usually affects the knees and elbows...... "

It was 's knee.

" ...it happens more often in boys and young men 10 to 20 years of age, while

they are still growing..... "

was almost 19.

" .....If the loose piece is unstable, you might need surgery to remove it or

secure it.... "

had a piece that was unstable, it was secured. They drilled, I believe

4 holes & also let new bone grow & fill in to secure it more, to encourage the

healing process. And since he had the surgery & a very aggressive course of

PT with the UConn athletic Dept., he was back on hockey skates by the

beginning of the following season.

In a message dated 6/16/2004 10:06:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,

pghand@... writes:

What Should I Know About Osteochondritis Dissecans?

What is OCD?

In osteochondritis dissecans (OCD for short), a loose piece of bone and

cartilage separates from the end of the bone. The loose piece may stay in place

or

fall into the joint space, making the joint unstable. This causes pain and

feelings that the joint is " catching " or " giving way. " These loose pieces are

sometimes called " joint mice. " OCD usually affects the knees and elbows.

Who gets OCD?

Anyone can get OCD, but it happens more often in boys and young men 10 to 20

years of age, while they are still growing. OCD is being diagnosed more often

in girls as they become more active in sports. It affects athletes, especially

gymnasts and baseball players.The adult form occurs in mature bone, and the

juvenile form occurs in growing bone.

How do I know my joint pain is OCD?

If you have a sore joint (especially your knee or elbow), see your doctor.

You might have swelling. You might not be able to extend your arm or leg fully.

Your pain may or may not be related to an injury. You may have pain during

activity and feel stiff after resting. These are all clues to yourdoctor that

you may have OCD. Your doctor will check you to be sure the joint is stable and

check for extra fluid in the joint. Your doctor will consider the possible

causes of joint pain, such as fractures, sprains and OCD. If OCD is suspected,

your doctor will order x-rays to check all sides of the joint.

What tests should I have?

If signs of OCD are seen on x-ray of one joint, you'll have x-rays of both

joints to compare them. After this, you may have MRI (magnetic resonance

imaging). MRI can show if the loose piece is still in place or if it has moved

into

the joint space. If the loose piece is unstable, you might need surgery to

remove it or secure it. If the loose piece is stable you may not need surgery,

but

you may need other kinds of treatment.

Do I have to stop sports activities?

If a nonsurgical treatment is recommended, you should avoid activities that

cause discomfort. You should avoid competitive sports for six to eight weeks.

Your doctor may suggest stretching exercises or swimming instead.

Can OCD be cured?

Young people have the best chance of returning to their usual activity

level, although they might not be able to keep playing sports with

repetitive motions, such as baseball pitching. Adults are more likely to

need surgery and are less likely to be completely cured. They may get

arthritis in the joint later on.

This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to

everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more

information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.

Visit familydoctor.org for information on this and many other health-related

topics.

Copyright © 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.