Osgood-Schlatter Disease

1. Cold and Flu Slideshow: Treating Your Child's Cold or Fever
2. Children's Illnesses Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the ADHD Quiz

Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a disorder of the lower front of the knee where the large tendon under the kneecap (patellar tendon) attaches to the bone of the leg below. The condition is characterized by localized pain and tenderness in this area. Osgood-Schlatter disease is predominantly seen in young adolescent boys. It is felt that stress on the bone from the tendon tugging it during activities leads to Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is felt to be due in part to recurrent pulling tension on the kneecap tendon by the bulky muscles of the front of the thigh. The irritation of this pulling can cause local pain, inflammation, swelling, and calcification of the tendon that is visible with an x-ray test.

Osgood-Schlatter disease can be diagnosed clinically based on the typical symptoms and physical examination findings. X-ray testing is sometime performed in order to document the status of the calcification at the insertion of kneecap (patellar) tendon. Sometimes a tiny piece of the bone of the tibia actually is pulled away by the inflamed tendon.

Patients with Osgood-Schlatter disease can be helped by antiinflammation and pain-relieving medications, ice, and rest. Osgood-Schlatter disease typically goes away over time (months to years after the normal bone growth stops). Some adults who have had Osgood-Schlatter disease are left with "knobby" appearance to the front of the knee.

• Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful inflammation in the front of the bony leg below the knee.
• Osgood-Schlatter disease can cause local pain, inflammation, swelling, and calcification.
• Osgood-Schlatter disease can be diagnosed by the history and examination.
• Osgood-Schlatter disease can be helped by antiinflammation and pain-relieving medications, ice, and rest.