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Cartilage 2019 Feb 1:1947603519828434. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

1 Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Altona Children's Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the gold standard to diagnose and monitor osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for the first time if ultrasound imaging can be used to visualize osteochondritis dissecans of the distal femur.

Design: From May 2008 to December 2013, 44 children (26 boys and 18 girls) presenting with OCD of the knee in our department were examined and evaluated by ultrasound imaging. Read More

JSES Open Access 2018 Jul 10;2(2):126-128. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Orthopedic Department, Japanese Red Cross Hospital Nagoya Daiichi, Nagoya, Japan.

Biomed Res Int 2018 23;2018:9275102. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, SC Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy.

Knee osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a focal disease of the joint characterized by modifications of bone and cartilage tissues. Biomimetic osteochondral scaffolds are used to restore these tissues. The aim of this prognostic prospective cohort study was to evaluate serum biomarkers of cartilage (fragments or propeptide of type II collagen: CTXII, C2C, and CPII) and bone (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) 5b and osteocalcin (OC)) turnover during follow-up of patients treated with an osteochondral scaffold, to identify which were related to healing outcome and clinical score. Read More

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 301 East 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA.

Purpose: The number of arthroscopic knee surgeries performed annually has increased over the last decade. It remains unclear what proportion of individuals undergoing knee arthroscopy is at risk for subsequent ipsilateral procedures. Better knowledge of risk factors and the incidence of reoperative ipsilateral arthroscopy are important in setting expectations and counselling patients on treatment options. Read More

Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

Purpose Of The Review: To review the most recent literature on osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the capitellum in overhead athletes and describe a treatment algorithm based on current best evidence and surgeon experience.

Recent Findings: Recent research has included larger cohort studies with longer follow-up as well as quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These studies have focused on understanding how lesion characteristics such as size, location, and appearance on advanced imaging can predict treatment success. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2018 Dec 19;6(12):2325967118815846. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Orthopaedics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow is a disorder of subchondral bone and articular cartilage, of which the incidence among children is not clearly known.

Purpose: To assess the demographics and epidemiology of OCD of the elbow among children.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Read More

Arthroscopy 2019 Jan;35(1):67-69

Osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum is a rare and ultrasonically identifiable disease of the dominant elbow of preadolescent baseball players as young as 9 years of age. We must choose to protect these young players, either by initiating a screening program to identify the disease at an early stage when treatment results in an acceptable lifelong outcome or by vociferously limiting the daily, weekly, and yearly participation in this vulnerable group. Read More

Arthroscopy 2019 Jan;35(1):60-66

Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.

Purpose: To quantify the 1-year cumulative incidence of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in preadolescent baseball players and identify the risk factors associated with this condition.

Methods: In total, 1,275 school-aged baseball players (aged 6-11 years) without an established diagnosis of capitellar OCD were enrolled in this longitudinal, observational study. One year later, all players underwent ultrasonographic examination of the throwing elbow on the playing field. Read More

Case Rep Orthop 2018 18;2018:8030862. Epub 2018 Nov 18.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.

A 16-year-old woman presented to her local hospital with a few-month history of right knee pain. On MRI, the lesion exhibited an intermediate signal on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images. The orthopedic physician made a diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans. Read More

J Bone Joint Surg Am 2018 Dec;100(24):2132-2139

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Background: The pathogenesis of human juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) remains poorly understood, with multiple factors implicated, including ischemia, repetitive trauma, and genetic predisposition. Similarities in the predilection site and the diagnostic and clinical features of JOCD to the well-characterized veterinary counterpart, osteochondrosis dissecans, suggest that, similar to the animal disease, the pathogenesis JOCD may also be initiated in the first few years of life, when disruption of blood supply to the epiphyseal growth cartilage leads to failure of endochondral ossification. To gather data in support of the hypothesis that JOCD and osteochondrosis dissecans have a shared pathogenesis, biopsy specimens obtained from predilection sites of JOCD in juvenile human cadavers were histologically examined to determine whether they contained lesions similar to those found in animals diagnosed with subclinical osteochondrosis dissecans. Read More

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Joint surface incongruence resulting from osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) alters the articular physiologic congruence, increasing the contact stress on adjacent joint surfaces and accelerating wear and the cascade of joint degeneration. Accordingly, the restoration of articular surface integrity is of major importance, especially in young adults where, in lesions left untreated or following simple fragment excision, early osteoarthritis can be anticipated. Therefore, the treatment algorithm in unstable knee OCD of the young adult foresees surgical options to restore the articular surface. Read More

JBJS Case Connect 2018 Oct-Dec;8(4):e99

Miraidaira Orthopaedic Clinic, Tsukubamirai, Japan.

Case: A 19-year-old college baseball outfielder presented with a 3-month history of right shoulder pain. Radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large osteochondral defect at the posterosuperior aspect of the glenoid. Arthroscopic evaluation identified an unstable fragment that was partially attached. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Dec 5;13(1):309. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.

Background: The absence of a single, identifiable traumatic cause has been traditionally used as a definition for a causative factor of overuse injury. Excessive loading, insufficient recovery, and underpreparedness can increase injury risk by exposing athletes to relatively large changes in load. The musculoskeletal system, if subjected to excessive stress, can suffer from various types of overuse injuries which may affect the bone, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Read More

Am J Sports Med 2019 Jan 27;47(1):82-87. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California, USA.

Background:: The association between patient satisfaction and patient-reported outcomes after cartilage repair is not well understood.

Purpose:: To investigate the association of patient satisfaction with pain, function, activity level, and quality of life after fresh osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation in the knee.

Study Design:: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Read More

Acta Orthop Belg 2018 Jun;84(2):229-234

The purpose of this study is to describe, if there is, any relation between ankle morphology and development of talus osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) using certain morphological parameters derived from high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study included a total of 93 patients: 26 patients with traumatic medial talus OCD, 30 patients with idiopathic medial talus OCD and 37 patients with normal ankle as the control group. Five MRI morphological parameters (Maximal Tibial Thickness (MTiTh), Malleolar Width (MalW), Length of Trochlea Tali Arc (TaL), Height of Trochlea Tali Arc (TaH) and Angle of Trochlea Tali Inclination (TaIA)) that are expected to be relevant to talus OCD formation are measured and compared for the three groups. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018 Dec;27(12):2262-2270

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shimane University School of Medicine, Shimane, Japan.

Background: For treatment of advanced elbow osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), we have used surgical treatment. Although favorable treatment outcomes have been reported for centrally located OCD, treatment outcomes are generally questionable and the choice of surgical method is controversial for laterally located OCD. Our purpose was to evaluate the treatment outcomes based on lesion location. Read More

J Biomech 2019 Jan 26;82:164-170. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia, USA. Electronic address:

Little work has been done to examine the deep squat position (>130° sagittal knee flexion). In baseball and softball, catchers perform this squat an average of 146 times per nine-inning game. To alleviate some of the stress on their knees caused by this repetitive loading, some catchers wear foam knee supports. Read More

Bone Joint J 2018 Nov;100-B(11):1487-1490

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the morphology of the ankle in patients with an osteochondral lesion of the talus using 3D CT, and to investigate factors that predispose to this condition.

Patients And Methods: The study involved 19 patients (19 ankles) who underwent surgery for a medial osteochondral lesion (OLT group) and a control group of 19 healthy patients (19 ankles) without ankle pathology. The mean age was significantly lower in the OLT group than in the control group (27. Read More

J Knee Surg 2018 Nov 5. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.

We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for the treatment of adult osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions according to patient-reported outcomes, complication rates, and failure rates. A search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library was performed to identify clinical studies (levels I-IV) reporting outcomes after ACI treatment for OCD in adult knees. Our inclusion criteria included the following: (1) published between January 2000 and April 2017, (2) stable and unstable OCD lesions of the knee, (3) use of ACI in at least one group, (4) subjects ≥18 years old or skeletally mature, (5) inclusion of at least one patient-reported clinical outcome measure, and (6) written in English. Read More

Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2018 Dec;26(4):181-184

Andrews Sports Medicine, Birmingham, AL.

Injuries and disorders of the elbow in athletes are common especially among throwing athletes. Common injuries encountered in the throwing athlete include ulnar collateral ligament injuries, ulnar neuritis, capitellar osteochondritis dissecans, valgus extension overload with posterior olecranon impingement, olecranon stress fracture, and loose bodies. A thorough knowledge of both the functional anatomy as well as throwing biomechanics are required to properly diagnosis and treat these problems. Read More

Adv Orthop 2018 23;2018:7912975. Epub 2018 Sep 23.

The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA.

Introduction: Concern regarding ability of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) to correct for the bone and cartilage pathology of knee juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) exists. The purpose of this study was to determine long-term, patient-based outcomes of ACI treatment of JOCD in young patients. Authors hypothesized long-term outcomes are comparable to reported mid-term outcomes. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018 Nov;27(11):2038-2044

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Medical Mechatronic Engineering Program, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (COCD) is a common elbow injury in young baseball athletes. It may be asymptomatic at the early stage and may progress if left untreated. This study investigated the effectiveness of ultrasonography (US) screening for COCD in adolescent baseball players and identified risk factors of COCD. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018 Nov;27(11):2030-2037

Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum is a rare but potentially debilitating condition. We sought to determine the healing potential of stable capitellar OCD treated nonoperatively, as well as factors predictive of successful nonoperative management.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients younger than 19 years who presented with stable OCD of the capitellum and were treated nonoperatively for a minimum of 2 months. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2018 Dec 27;60:9-12. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Background: Contact between the tibial spine and medial femoral condyle with internal tibial rotation (ITR) has been proposed as a factor for the development of osteochondritis dissecans lesions. We hypothesized that tibial spine contact force (CF) would increase significantly with applied internal tibial torque (IT).

Methods: A 20 mm diameter cylinder of bone encompassing the tibial spine was cored and attached to a load cell. Read More

Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2018 Dec 21;26(12):1691-1698. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) is similar to osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) in animals, which is the result of failure of the cartilage canal blood supply, ischemic chondronecrosis and delayed ossification, or osteochondrosis. The aim of the current study was to determine if osteochondrosis lesions occur at predilection sites for JOCD in children.

Method: Computed tomographic (CT) scans of 23 knees (13 right, 10 left) from 13 children (9 male, 4 female; 1 month to 11 years old) were evaluated for lesions consisting of focal, sharply demarcated, uniformly hypodense defects in the ossification front. Read More

JBJS Essent Surg Tech 2018 Mar 14;8(1):e8. Epub 2018 Mar 14.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

Background: Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a focal injury of the articular cartilage involving separation of a segment of cartilage from the subchondral bone that is infrequently encountered in the dominant-side elbow of adolescent throwing athletes. The literature suggests that patients may achieve better short and mid-term results when treated with certain types of surgical procedures. Selection of the appropriate surgical method should be based on the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) OCD classification system. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2018 Sep 13;6(9):2325967118795831. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.

Orthop J Sports Med 2018 Sep 12;6(9):2325967118794620. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Background: Evaluations of the stability of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the elbow using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have resulted in reports with variable accuracy. Therefore, the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) classification remains the gold standard to determine OCD lesion stability. Because OCD commonly occurs in pediatric patients, a noninvasive method comparable with the ICRS classification is desired. Read More

Cartilage 2018 Sep 15:1947603518800541. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

1 Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery, Hessing Stiftung Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.

Objective The etiology of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is still uncertain. Recently, it has been hypothesized that instability of the anterior horn of the meniscus is an important cause for the development of a nontraumatic OCD in adolescents with good results after surgical stabilization. This case series aims to evaluate the treatment results after meniscus stabilization in adults with nontraumatic OCD. Read More

Eur J Med Res 2018 Sep 15;23(1):42. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Orthopaedic-Surgery Center (OCC), Tübingen, Germany.

Background: Chondral or osteochondral lesions, post-traumatic contracture and loose bodies of the elbow are often associated with chronic pain, stiffness, repetitive swelling and joint blockages. Therefore, arthroscopy of the elbow is often used in the elderly for the treatment of osteochondral defects or arthrolysis. There are only a few reports and studies about arthroscopic therapy of the elbow in children and adolescents. Read More

J Zoo Wildl Med 2018 Sep;49(3):788-793

Two related female snow leopards ( Panthera uncia) were diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans of the lateral femoral condyle via radiographs and computed tomography. Lesions were either bilateral (Patient 1) or unilateral (Patient 2). Surgical treatment was performed using an osteochondral autograft transfer system following cartilage flap removal. Read More

Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 2018 Aug;47(8)

Sovereign Medical Group, Glen Rock, NJ.

This case shows an atypical presentation of an osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the radial head with detachment diagnosed on plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OCD lesions are rather uncommon in the elbow joint; however, when present, these lesions are typically seen in throwing athletes or gymnasts who engage in activities involving repetitive trauma to the elbow. Involvement of the radial head is extremely rare, accounting for <5% of all elbow OCD lesions. Read More

J Magn Reson Imaging 2018 Aug 24. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Background: Ten-minute MRI of the pediatric knee can add value through increased cost-effectiveness and decreased sedation needs but requires validation of its clinical efficacy.

Purpose: To determine the arthroscopy-based diagnostic accuracy and interreader reliability of 10-min 3D Controlled Aliasing In Parallel Imaging Results In Higher Acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) turbo spin echo (TSE) MRI with two isotropic pulse sequences for the diagnosis of internal derangement in children with painful knee conditions.

Study Type: Prospective. Read More

Am J Sports Med 2018 Oct 24;46(12):2954-2959. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amphia Hospital, Breda, the Netherlands.

Background: Arthroscopic debridement and microfracture are considered the primary surgical treatment for capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Healing of the subchondral bone plays an essential role in cartilage repair, while lack of healing is related to the development of osteoarthritis. To date, it is unknown to what extent healing of the subchondral bone occurs after this technique in the elbow. Read More

Cartilage 2018 Aug 24:1947603518796132. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Objective This retrospective case series describes a hybrid fixation technique and determines the clinical outcomes, knee function, and activity level of patients at short-term follow-up. Design Seventeen patients (18 knees) with unstable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions involving the knee were treated with a hybrid fixation technique in which the salvageable fragment was fixed and osteochondral autograft transplantation system (OATS) was used for the unsalvageable fragment. Thirteen lesions involved the medial femoral condyle, 4 involved the lateral femoral condyle, and 1 involved the patella. Read More

Int J Sports Phys Ther 2018 Aug;13(4):726-736

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Spain;

Background And Purpose: Elbow pain is common in young gymnasts and is frequently encountered by physical therapists working in direct access outpatient clinics. Most elbow pain is benign; however, non-specific symptoms can mask serious medical pathologies, as is the case with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). OCD is a joint condition in which bone underneath the cartilage of a joint dies due to lack of blood flow. Read More

Radiographics 2018 Sep-Oct;38(5):1478-1495. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

From the Department of Radiology, Einstein Healthcare Network, 5501 Old York Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19141 (T.G, M.C., B.W.C.) and Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (Y.M.).

Several pathologic conditions may manifest as an osteochondral lesion of the knee that consists of a localized abnormality involving subchondral marrow, subchondral bone, and articular cartilage. Although understanding of these conditions has evolved substantially with the use of high-spatial-resolution MRI and histologic correlation, it is impeded by inconsistent terminology and ambiguous abbreviations. Common entities include acute traumatic osteochondral injuries, subchondral insufficiency fracture, so-called spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee, avascular necrosis, osteochondritis dissecans, and localized osteochondral abnormalities in osteoarthritis. Read More

Indian J Orthop 2018 Jul-Aug;52(4):344-352

Department of Orthopaedics, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder primarily affecting subchondral bone, with secondary effects on the overlying articular cartilage. Knee joint (75%) and radiocapitellar joint (6%) are the most common sites for OCD lesions. The presence of an open growth plate differentiates juvenile osteochondritis dissecans from adult form of osteochondritis. Read More

Knee 2018 Dec 1;25(6):1318-1321. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an ancient disease with few well-described cases in paleopathological records. Here, we report a very rare case of OCD on both lateral femoral condyles and on the lateral condyle of the right tibia in an early medieval human skeleton.

Methods: macroscopic examination of the bone vestiges of a young male unearthed from a 6th-8th Lombard cemetery in the northeast Italy was perform. Read More

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2018 Sep/Oct;54(5):e54503. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

From Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.

A 5 mo old English setter dog was presented with mild left forelimb lameness. Physical examination revealed pain upon shoulder palpation and extension. Mediolateral radiographs of both shoulders showed a subchondral bone defect in the mid-portion of the glenoid cavity. Read More

Rev Bras Ortop 2018 Jul-Aug;53(4):499-502. Epub 2018 Jun 8.

Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

The authors report a rare case of osteochondritis dissecans of the trochlea. The treatment of these lesions, in which the osteochondral fragment is not viable, is difficult and often limited in Brazil. A clinical case is presented with functional and radiological outcomes after treatment with microfracture technique, bone graft, and collagen membrane coverage. Read More

Cartilage 2018 Jul 1:1947603518786545. Epub 2018 Jul 1.

1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Objective Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a knee disorder of predominately pediatric populations. Because of low incidence, it has traditionally been difficult to study OCD. The purpose of this study was to report long-term outcomes of skeletally immature OCD lesions and determine risk factors for persistent knee pain at final follow-up. Read More

Cartilage 2018 Jul 1:1947603518786557. Epub 2018 Jul 1.

1 II Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy.

Objective The purpose of this manuscript is to analyze the evidence regarding etiopathogenesis of knee osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions through a systematic review, so to summate the current understanding of the origin and progression of this pathologic articular processes. Design A systematic review of the literature was performed on the PubMed and Cochrane databases on October 2017 by 2 independent authors and included all levels of evidence. This included all English language literature, pertaining specifically to etiopathology of knee OCD with exclusions for review articles and expert opinion. Read More

Bone Rep 2018 Dec 21;9:19-26. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.

Osteochondrosis (OC) is a naturally occurring disease of the articular-epiphyseal cartilage and subchondral bone layers, leading to pain and decreased mobility. The objective of this study was to characterize gene and protein expression of apoptotic markers in chondrocytes surrounding cartilage canals and along the osteochondral junction of osteochondrosis (OC)-affected and normal cartilage, using naturally occurring disease in horses. Paraffin-embedded osteochondral samples (6 OC, 8 normal controls) and cDNA from chondrocytes captured with laser capture microdissection (4 OC, 6 normal controls) were obtained from the lateral trochlear ridge of femoropatellar joints in 14 immature horses (1-6 months of age). Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 28;2018:5458704. Epub 2018 May 28.

SC Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy.

The healing potential of knee osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) focal lesions is not well defined. We performed a cross-sectional study correlating local and systemic biological characteristics with the patients' characteristics. We evaluated both local tissue markers (CD34, CD146, CD166, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)) and systemic serum biomarkers (fragments or propeptide of type II collagen: C2C, CTX-II, CPII, and TRAP5b) on histologically scored osteochondral fragments or serum from OCD patients. Read More

Am J Sports Med 2018 Aug 11;46(10):2394-2401. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of unknown origin that can affect knees in skeletally mature and immature patients. Surgical management is an important cornerstone of treatment for unstable OCD lesions.

Purpose: To determine the (1) healing rate after internal fixation of unstable OCD between skeletally immature and mature knees, (2) risk factors for failure, and (3) patient-reported outcomes among healed patients. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2018 Jul 10. Epub 2018 Jul 10.

Department of Orthopaedics, Medical Faculty, University of Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are both common diseases which may affect joints and bony structures in pediatric patients. In some cases, JOCD and JIA occur at the same time. In this study, the course of JOCD in patients with JIA was therefore evaluated to provide possible recommendations for further treatment opportunities and control examinations. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2018 Jun 13;6(6):2325967118776951. Epub 2018 Jun 13.

Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures have become increasingly common in pediatric and adolescent athletes. While multiple methods exist, all-epiphyseal ACL reconstruction is a popular technique in the skeletally immature patient. Given the high rate of reruptures in this population and the increasing number of commercially available fixation devices, biomechanical testing is crucial to understand the performance of these devices in pediatric epiphyseal bone. Read More

JBJS Case Connect 2018 Apr-Jun;8(2):e41

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.

Case: The cause of osteochondritis dissecans is unknown. Various hypotheses suggest mechanical, ischemic, and hereditary causes. We describe a 13-year-old girl with spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, who had an associated crouch gait and presented with bilateral osteochondral defects of the medial and lateral femoral condyles. Read More