Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
Last revised by Henry Knipe on 31 Aug 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Knipe H, Jones J, et al. Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 03 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1798
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1798
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
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Last revised:
31 Aug 2022,
Henry Knipe ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Revisions:
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Systems:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- OCD of knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of knee
- OCD knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans affecting the knee
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) most commonly affects the knee. See osteochondritis dissecans article for a general discussion.
On this page:
Pathology
Location
The condition occurs bilaterally in 25% of cases, and has a characteristic distribution 2,4,6:
- medial condyle: ~78.5% (range 70-85%)
- "classic" lateral surface of the medial condyle: ~70%
- this can be remembered by the mnemonic "LAME"; Lateral Aspect of the Medial Epicondyle
- lateral condyle: 15%
- inferocentral portion: 13%
- anterior surface: 2%
- patella: ~7.5% (range 5-10%)
- typically inferomedial
- patellofemoral groove (femoral trochlea): <1%
- weight-bearing surface of the tibia: uncommon
Radiographic features
These are discussed in the general article on osteochondritis dissecans.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis includes:
- normal fusing apophysis: painless
- acute osteochondral fracture
In older patients consider:
- insufficiency fracture
- subchondral insufficiency fracture of the knee
See also
-
osteochondritis dissecans (general discussion)
- osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle: talus
- osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow: capitellum
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Wolfgang Dähnert. Radiology Review Manual. (2002) ISBN: 0781738954
- 2. Sailors M. Recognition and Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Femoral Condyles. J Athl Train. 1994;29(4):302-6. PMC1317804 [Pubmed]
- 3. Michael J, Wurth A, Eysel P, König D. Long-Term Results After Operative Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee Joint-30 Year Results. Int Orthop. 2008;32(2):217-21. doi:10.1007/s00264-006-0292-7 [Pubmed]
- 4. Boutin R, Januario J, Newberg A, Gundry C, Newman J. MR Imaging Features of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Femoral Sulcus. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;180(3):641-5. doi:10.2214/ajr.180.3.1800641 [Pubmed]
- 5. De Smet A, Fisher D, Graf B, Lange R. Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: Value of MR Imaging in Determining Lesion Stability and the Presence of Articular Cartilage Defects. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1990;155(3):549-53. doi:10.2214/ajr.155.3.2117355 [Pubmed]
- 6. Zanon G, DI Vico G, Marullo M. Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee. Joints. 2014;2(1):29-36. PMC4295664 [Pubmed]
- 7. Bruns J, Werner M, Habermann C. Osteochondritis Dissecans: Etiology, Pathology, and Imaging with a Special Focus on the Knee Joint. Cartilage. 2018;9(4):346-62. doi:10.1177/1947603517715736 [Pubmed]
Incoming Links
Articles:
Cases:
- Osteochondritis dissecans - lateral femoral trochlea
- Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans
- Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Patellar osteochondritis dissecans
- Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Osteochondritis dissecans (knee)
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondral defect
- Repaired osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- Osteochondral defect
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Knee pathology
The knee is a complex synovial joint that can be affected by a range of pathologies:
- bone and cartilage
-
knee fractures
- distal femoral condyle fracture
- tibial plateau fracture (classification)
- patella fracture
-
avulsion fractures of the knee
- arcuate complex avulsion fracture (arcuate sign)
- anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- biceps femoris avulsion fracture
- iliotibial band avulsion fracture
- quadriceps tendon avulsion fracture
- patellar sleeve fracture
- posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- reverse Segond fracture
- Segond fracture
- semimembranosus tendon avulsion fracture
- Stieda fracture chronic avulsion injuries
- dislocation
- chondromalacia patellae
- osteoarthritis of the knee
- osteochondral
- patterns of bone bruise in knee injury
-
knee fractures
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament tear
- anterior cruciate ligament ganglion cyst
- anterior cruciate ligament mucoid degeneration
- posterior cruciate ligament tear
- medial collateral ligament tear
- lateral collateral ligament tear
- medial patellofemoral ligament tear
- posterolateral corner injury
- posteromedial corner injury
- tendons
- meniscal lesions
- bursosynovial lesions
- fat pad
- popliteal fossa
- fascia
- alignment
- knee
- patellofemoral
- gamut