Disease: Osgood-Schlatter disease

Overview

Osgood-Schlatter disease can cause a painful, bony bump on the shinbone just below the knee. It usually occurs in children and adolescents experiencing growth spurts during puberty.

Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs most often in children who participate in sports that involve running, jumping and swift changes of direction — such as soccer, basketball, figure skating and ballet.

While the condition was once more common in boys, the gender gap has narrowed as more girls have become involved with sports.

Osgood-Schlatter disease typically occurs in boys ages 12 to 14 and girls ages 10 to 13. The difference is because girls enter puberty earlier than do boys. The condition usually resolves on its own, once the child's bones stop growing.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

Knee pain and swelling just below the kneecap are the main indicators of Osgood-Schlatter disease. Pain usually worsens during certain activities, such as running, kneeling and jumping, and eases with rest.

The condition usually occurs in just one knee, but it can affect both knees. The discomfort can last from weeks to months and can recur until your child stops growing.

When to see a doctor

Call your child's doctor if knee pain interferes with your child's ability to perform daily activities. Seek medical attention if the knee is swollen and red, or if the knee pain is associated with fever, locking or instability of the knee joint.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

During activities that involve running, jumping and bending — such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and ballet — your child's thigh muscles (quadriceps) pull on the tendon that connects the kneecap to the growth plate at the top part of the shinbone.

This repeated stress can cause the tendon to pull on the growth plate where the tendon inserts into the shinbone, resulting in the pain and swelling associated with Osgood-Schlatter disease. Some children's bodies try to close that gap with new bone growth, which can result in a bony lump at that spot.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

During the physical exam, your doctor will check your child's knee for tenderness, swelling, pain and redness. X-rays may be taken to look at the bones of the knee and leg and to more closely examine the area where the kneecap tendon attaches to the shinbone.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

Complications of Osgood-Schlatter disease are uncommon. If they occur, they might include chronic pain or localized swelling.

Even after symptoms have resolved, a bony bump might remain on the shinbone just below the kneecap. This bump can persist to some degree throughout your child's life, but it doesn't usually interfere with knee function.

In rare cases, Osgood-Shlattter disease can cause the growth plate to be pulled away from the shinbone.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Lifestyle and home remedies

It might help your child to:

  • Rest the joint. Limit time spent doing activities that aggravate the condition, such as kneeling, jumping and running.
  • Ice the affected area. This can help with pain and swelling.
  • Stretch leg muscles. Stretching the muscles on the front of the thigh (quadriceps), is especially important.
  • Protect the knee. When your child is participating in sports, have him or her wear a pad over the affected knee where the knee can become irritated.
  • Try a strap. A patellar tendon strap fits around the leg just below the kneecap. It can help to "tack down" the kneecap's tendon during activities and distribute some of the force away from the shinbone.
  • Cross-train. Suggest that your child switch to activities that don't involve jumping or running, such as cycling or swimming, until symptoms subside.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Risk factors

The main risk factors for Osgood-Schlatter disease are:

  • Age. Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs during puberty's growth spurts. Age ranges differ by sex because girls enter puberty earlier than do boys. Osgood-Schlatter disease typically occurs in boys ages 12 to 14 and girls ages 10 to 13.
  • Sex. Osgood-Schlatter disease is more common in boys, but the gender gap is narrowing as more girls become involved with sports.
  • Sports. The condition happens most often with sports that involve running, jumping and swift changes in direction.
  • Flexibility. Tightness in the quadriceps muscles can increase the pull of the kneecap's tendon on the growth plate at the top of the shinbone.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Define Common Diseases

Welcome to WebHealthNetwork, here you can find information, definitaions and treatement options for most common diseases, sicknesses, illnesses and medical conditions. Find what diseases you have quick and now.