OSTEOCHONDRITIS

Children and teenagers who take part in sport are more likely to develop the condition and it’s also more common in boys.

Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness and/or weakness in the joint. There may also be a feeling of the joint ‘popping’ and, in some cases, locking.

Adrian will discuss your child’s symptoms with you and carry out an examination of the knee to check for tenderness, stiffness, swelling and any difficulties with movement. In most cases, he will arrange for them to have an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis. The final diagnosis is made with an MRI scan.

In most cases, resting and taking the weight off the knee for a period of time will settle things. Adrian may also advise that your child has a course of physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles and tendons around the joint. However, in some cases, he may advise that your child has surgery to fix the bone and cartilage fragment that have partially detached.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by a bone at the top of the shin bone becoming affected during a growth spurt. It’s more common if your child takes part in sports that include running and jumping or where there is repeated stress on the knees.

The most common symptom is the formation of a bony growth where the patella tendon joins the shin bone.

Adrian will discuss your child’s symptoms with you and carry out an examination of the knee to check for tenderness, stiffness, swelling and any difficulties with movement. In most cases, he will arrange for them to have an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

In most cases, resting, along with taking painkillers (as prescribed by your doctor) is enough to relieve the symptoms and your child is likely to make a complete recovery by the time he or she stops growing. Surgery is only very rarely necessary. However, children with Osgood-Schlatter syndrome will still have a bony lump on the front of the shin bone, even after surgery.

It’s caused by repetitive strain on the patella tendon which causes the growth plate to become inflamed and painful. It’s more common in boys aged 10-15. It’s sometimes described as the childhood equivalent to jumper’s knee.

Adrian will discuss your child’s symptoms with you and carry out an examination of the knee to check for tenderness, stiffness, swelling and any difficulties with movement. In most cases, he will arrange for them to have an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

In most cases, resting, along with taking painkillers (as prescribed by your doctor) is enough to relieve the symptoms and your child is likely to make a complete recovery by the time he or she stops growing. Surgery is only recommended in around 5% of cases.