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Osteochondritis Dessicans

Los Angeles Pediatric Orthopaedics Our Services Osteochondritis Dessicans

Los Angeles Pediatric Orthopaedics

Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons & Sports Medicine Specialists located in Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA

You’re bound to notice if your child starts moving slowly, stiffly, or painfully, particularly if they’re a young athlete and usually very active. This can be a sign of osteochondritis dissecans, a serious condition that impacts the bone and cartilage in joints. For an accurate diagnosis and effective care, turn to the pediatric orthopaedic surgeons at Los Angeles Pediatric Orthopaedics. Jonathan H. Koenig, MD, and Thomas Grogan, MD, can evaluate and treat your child at their office near the Brentwood neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles. To schedule your visit, call the practice or request an appointment online today.

Osteochondritis Dessicans Q & A

What is osteochondritis dissecans?

This joint condition occurs when the bone beneath joint cartilage can’t get enough blood flow and wastes away. This destabilizes the bone and cartilage, hinders proper joint movement, and causes pain.

Children and young people between 10 and 20 are most likely to experience osteochondritis dissecans, especially if they are involved in sports like gymnastics or baseball. It usually impacts knee joints but can also affect the ankle or elbow.

What causes osteochondritis dissecans?

While science is still investigating its exact cause, the risk of developing osteochondritis dissecans increases with fractures, sprains, trauma, or injuring the joint. If someone in your family has osteochondritis dissecans, your child is more likely to have it.

What are the symptoms of osteochondritis dissecans?

Watch for common signs such as:

  • Joint pain or swelling
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Joint locking or popping
  • Increased pain after activities

You may notice your child moving stiffly or rubbing the impacted joint to relieve discomfort.

How is osteochondritis dissecans treated?

Dr. Koenig and the team typically use X-rays to examine abnormalities in the affected joint. He may also order a CT or MRI scan to find loose fragments.

After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis, he’ll personalize your child’s treatment plan according to their age and the severity of their condition.

The first goal is to relieve troublesome symptoms like pain and stiffness, alongside slowing their joint degeneration.

If the condition is advanced or severe, Dr. Koenig can discuss surgical correction options, including:

Drilling

Carefully drilling tiny holes in the bone allows new blood vessels to grow and promotes better circulation in the area.

Open reduction internal fixation

If the area is hard to reach with an arthroscope, Dr. Koenig can access the area with an incision and fix the fragments in place.

Bone grafting

If dead or dying bone has to be removed, bone grafting replaces the missing tissue and repairs the area.

Osteochondral grafting

This procedure transfers healthy plugs of cartilage into impacted areas.

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)

Dr. Koenig harvests healthy cartilage cells and sends them to a lab to create a cultured cartilage tissue patch. This supports the defective area and helps new cartilage grow naturally.

If you notice your child moving unusually or dealing with pain, schedule an osteochondritis dissecans consultation.

Call Los Angeles Pediatric Orthopaedics or request an appointment online today to get started.

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