DRUG INDEX
Osteochondritis Dissecans
What is osteochondritis dissecans?
Osteochondritis dissecans is a condition whereby a variable amount of bone and its adjacent cartilage loses its blood supply. Osteochondritis dissecans can involve the bone and cartilage of virtually any joint. Elbows and knees are most commonly affected. Usually, only a small portion of the affected cartilage is involved.
What causes osteochondritis dissecans?
The cause of osteochondritis dissecans is often unknown. Theories include mild recurrent injuries, or growth disturbances.
How is osteochondritis dissecans treated?
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 or symptoms. Arthroscopic surgery is a frequently used procedure to remove the loose cartilage and bone tissue from the joint.
Sometimes, especially in the very young, osteochondritis dissecans can spontaneously correct itself.
What are prognosis factors for patients with osteochondritis dissecans?
Indicators of a worse prognosis include a large-sized lesion, a lesion on a weight-bearing area, and older age of the patient.
Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
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