The pathophysiology of Osgood–Schlatter disease: a magnetic resonance investigation

Abstract

Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a well-described clinical condition, although its origin remains controversial. Mechanical, growth or traumatic factors are suggested as causes of this lesion. Thirty-five patients were included in this study. Twenty of them had OSD (study group) and the remaining 15 adolescents constituted the control group. Magnetic resonance imaging of the knees was performed in all patients. The distance between the distal pole of the patella and the proximal margin of patellar tendon attachment to the tibial apophysis (A), the distance between the distal pole of the patella and the tibial tubercle epiphysis (B), the distance between the proximal margin of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia and the tibial tubercle epiphysis (C) and the distance between the knee joint level and the tibial tubercle epiphysis (D) were measured. The ratio of the distance between the distal pole of the patella and the proximal margin of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia to the distance between the distal pole of the patella and the tibial tubercle epiphysis (A : B) was lower in the study group. The ratio of the distance between the proximal margin of the patellar tendon attachment point to the tibia and the tibial tubercle epiphysis to the distance between the knee joint level and the tibial tubercle epiphysis (C : D) was higher in the control group. We conclude that if the patellar tendon attaches more proximally and in a broader area to the tibia, this might probably cause OSD.

Doppler ultrasound and tibial tuberosity maturation status predicts pain in adolescent male athletes with Osgood-Schlatter's disease: a case series with comparison group and clinical interpretation

“…The diagnosis is essentially clinical but radiology is often used for confirmation. Based on x-ray,6 ultrasound7–10 and MRI11 investigations, different aetiologies have been developed. The initial hypothesis described the repetitive traction of the patellar tendon on the distal insertion as the main area of secondary ossification centre fragmentation and transitory necrosis 4…”

Anterior Knee Pain in Children and Adolescents: Overview and Management

“…This condition commonly occurs in young athletes and develops due to stress placed on the developing tibial tubercle apophysis by the extensor mechanism. 33 OSD affects 21% of adolescent athletes compared with 4.5% of nonathletic adolescents. 34 OSD is usually responsive to conservative measurements but can progress to require operative intervention.…”

Démarche diagnostique des gonalgies chez l'enfant et l'adolescent

“…Cause fréquente de douleur antérieure sous rotulienne chez le garçon sportif de 10-12 ans [10], son diagnostic est aisé devant : une douleur mécanique sous-rotulienne, une tuméfac-tion plus ou moins inflammatoire et douloureuse de la TTA, l'image radiographique (cliché de profil) d'une épiphyse irré-gulière et fragmentée au niveau de la TTA (Fig. 3).…”