How does Osgood-Schlatter disease manifest, and how is it treated?

How does Osgood-Schlatter disease manifest, and how is it treated?

Publication date: 31-01-2025

Updated on: 31-01-2025

Topic: Orthopedics

Estimated reading time: 1 min

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a developmental condition that most commonly affects children and adolescents. It often leads to forced breaks from sports activities due to pain and functional limitations.

We discuss it with Dr. Giacomo Stefani, Head of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Unit at Istituto Clinico Città di Brescia.

How It Manifests

Osgood-Schlatter disease appears as a painful deformity just below the kneecap, caused by the tension exerted by the quadriceps muscle on the tibia through the patellar tendon.

It primarily affects children aged 10 and older, especially boys who engage in sports. The symptoms often emerge during training sessions as they become familiar with this condition.

In younger children, the tibia is not yet fully ossified and consists mainly of growth cartilage, making it more prone to deformation and increasing the likelihood of developing the painful swelling described above.

Triggering Factors

Any activity that increases quadriceps tension on the tibia can contribute to the development of Osgood-Schlatter disease. Sports, in general, are a key factor, with soccer being the most common cause.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Osgood-Schlatter disease is quite straightforward. If a child experiences pain while running, jumping, or playing, it is advisable to consult an orthopedic specialist, who can often identify a painful swelling at the upper part of the tibia just by visual inspection.

However, an X-ray is usually prescribed to highlight any deformity in the front part of the knee, just below the kneecap.

Treatment and Therapy

It is important to treat this condition correctly. While prolonged rest is the only way to ensure full recovery, it is not always a practical solution—especially with children.

The use of taping, bandages, and neoprene braces can help relieve pain and, in milder cases, may even allow the child to continue sports activities.

Once bone growth is complete, usually around 15-16 years of age, symptoms tend to improve, although the swelling may not disappear completely.

In rare cases, bone fragments may develop, causing pain and movement limitations in adulthood, which may require surgical removal.

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