What is osteochondritis dissecans of the knee?
Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee is a disorder in which
fragments of bone or cartilage come loose and float around
in the knee joint. Other terms for this condition are
chondral fracture and osteochondral fracture. The fragments
may also be referred to as a joint mouse or loose bodies.
How does it occur?
There has usually been a previous injury to the knee that
caused a fragment of bone or cartilage to be chipped off the
back of the kneecap or the top part of the knee joint.
What are the symptoms?
Your knee may lock up from time to time. You may see bulges
along the joint surface. You may be able to feel these
chips or loose bodies along the surface of your knee joint
at various times. Your knee can become swollen and painful.
You may not be able to fully bend or straighten your knee.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will examine your knee and may
find that it clicks or locks. Fragments may be felt along
the joint line. An x-ray or a magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) may show bony fragments.
How is it treated?
Loose bodies causing symptoms may need to be surgically
removed. Large defects along the joint surface may need to
be surgically corrected.
How long will the effects last?
The symptoms from osteochondritis dissecans may continue
until surgery is done to correct the problem. Ask your
health care provider when you will be able to return to your
normal activities. If you feel that your knee is giving way
or if you develop pain or have swelling in your knee, you
should see your health care provider.
When can I return to my normal activities?
Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate.
Return to your activities will be determined by how soon
your knee recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has
been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer
you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it
will take to get better. The goal of rehabilitation is to
return you to your normal activities as soon as is safely
possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your
injury.
You may safely return to your normal activities when,
starting from the top of the list and progressing to the
end, each of the following is true:
- Your injured knee can be fully straightened and bent
without pain.
- Your knee and leg have regained normal strength compared
to the uninjured knee and leg.
- Your knee is not swollen.
- You are able to walk, bend, and squat without pain.
How can I prevent osteochondritis dissecans of the knee?
Osteochondritis dissecans is usually caused by trauma to the
knee and is not preventable.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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