University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects Department of Physical Therapy 1998 A Review of Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Knee and Elbow Kimberley Dalere University of North Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/pt-grad Part of the Physical Therapy Commons Recommended Citation Dalere, Kimberley, "A Review of Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Knee and Elbow" (1998). Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects. 107. https://commons.und.edu/pt-grad/107 This Scholarly Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Physical Therapy at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A REVIEW OF OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS IN THE KNEE AND ELBOW by Kimberley Claire Dalere Bachelor of Art in Sports Medicine, Whitworth College, 1994 Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University of North Dakota, 1997 An Independent Study Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy School of Medicine University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Physical Therapy Grand Forks, North Dakota May 1998 This Independent Study, submitted by Kimberley Claire Dalere in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Preceptor, Advisor, and Chairperson of Physical Therapy under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. dha.wt!.JJ 1111M .f!jpr (Faculty Preceptor) I ~~r}JJ. mJv (Gra uate School AdvIsor) -~~ (Chairperson, Physical Therapy) ii PERMISSION Title A Review of Osteochodritis Dissecans in the Knee and Elbow Department Physical Therapy Degree Master of Physical Therapy In presenting this independent study in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the Department of Physical Therapy shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my work or, in hislher absence, by the Chairperson of the department. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this Independent Study Report or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my Independent Study Report. Signature_\~/==·====-~_ ..2....:::=====~~===~_ Date \ -:2.. [~ ! ~ "\ III TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT..................................................... v I. INTRODUCTION.......................................................... 1-2 II. CONDITIONSIF ACTORS OF OSTEOCHODRITIS DISSECANS IN THE KNEE.......................................... 3-10 A. Classification............................................................. 3 B. Clinical Features......................................................... 5 C. Management and Treatment........................ .............. 6 III. CONDITIONSIF ACTORS OF OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS IN THE ELBOW ........................................ 11-17 A. Classification.............................................................. 11 B. Clinical Features......................................................... 13 C. Management and Treatment.... ............ ...................... 15 IV. COMPARISON OF OCD IN THE KNEE AND ELBOW ... 18-19 IV. SUMMARy...................................................................... .... 20 REFERENCES................................................................ ...... 21-22 iv ABSTRACT Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition or injury that causes a separation I on the subchondral bone and articular cartilage. ,2 The reported incidence of oeD is 30- 3 60 cases per 100,000 people. It is primarily found in the knee and elbow joints. 1,2,3 The male to female ratio has been reported as two to one in the knee joint and three to one in the elbow joint, with thirty three per cent having bilateral involvement in one I occurrence. ,4,5,6 Since OCD has a high incidence rate in men and women, the purpose of this study is to compare and contrast OCD in the knee versus in the elbow. This review of the literature will also explain why OCD can occur in both a weight-bearing and a non­ weight-bearing joint with the same possible etiologies. This review of the literature will also explain the conditions, classifications, clinical features, and management and treatment of OCD in the knee and in the elbow. It was concluded that OCD has no significant evidence or relationship of occurrence in a weight-bearing versus a non­ weight-bearing joint. v CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition or injury that causes a separation 1 on the subchondral bone and articular cartilage. ,2 The reported incidence of oeD is 30- 60 cases per 100,000 people.3 Patients usually present in their teenage years, but the disorder may occur later in life. It is primarily found in the knee and elbow joints. 1,2,3 The male to female ratio has been reported as two to one in the knee joint and three to one in the elbow joint, with thirty three per cent having bilateral involvement in one 1 occurrence. ,4,5,6 Since OCD has a high incidence rate in men and women, the purpose of this study is to compare and contrast OCD in the knee versus in the elbow. This review of the literature will also explain why OCD can occur in both a weight-bearing and a non­ weight-bearing joint with the same possible eitiologies. As early as 1558, Ambrose Pare has been credited with the first removal of loose bodies assumed to be osteochondral fragments fromjoints.2 It was first described as 1 "quiet necrosis" by Paget in 1870. ,2 In 1888 "osteochondritis dissecans" was termed by Konig based on the hypothesis that these "corpora mobile" were caused by a pathological condition or by spontaneous necrosis resulting from trauma. He believed that there was inflammation of the ostochondral j oint surface which caused separation of the bone itself. Through research studies and medical advances, the absence of inflammatory cells in excised osteochondral loose bodies was found and trauma became more of an etiological 1 factor. Nevertheless, the use of the original name has been maintained and continues to be used today. In earlier literature, osteochondritis dissecans was treated either non-operatively or with an arthrotomy for removal of the loose fragments. 1 Non-operative procedures are still preferred for patients who are in the early process of the disease and for those who have open physes. As diagnostic advances and further knowledge of osteochondral healing have progressed, other options and alternatives have become available for operative treatment of lesions in its later stages. 1 Magnetic resonance imaging has become useful in the management decision of lesions in the knee and elbow. 1,2,5,7 Radiography, arthroscopy, MRI and bone scans are all useful in determining the stages of the lesion as well as reliable findings on whether conservative treatment will be beneficial for the patient.s,7,8 2 CHAPTER TWO CONDITIONSIF ACTORS OF OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS IN THE KNEE Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a painful fragmentation of an articular surface which most commonly affects the medial femoral condyle of the knee joint in 80%-85% of the cases.3 Within the knee, OCD lesions also occur at the lateral femoral condyle (10% to 15% of cases), and the patella (5% of cases). Lesions to the medial femoral condyle commonly occur on the outer non-weight-bearing surface of the condyle. Classification The OCD fragment consists of an articular cartilage that remains intact with a piece of subchondral bone that varies in thickness.3 A stable fragment remains in its normal anatomical location with a smooth articular surface. An unstable lesion may detach to become a loose body within the joint space. The cartilage is nourished by synovial fluid rather than direct blood supply, therefore the cartilage remains alive even if the fragment is a loose body.3 However, with repetitive trauma and the loss of mechanical support, the cartilage may undergo softening and degenerative changes.4 The fragment portion of the bone is relatively avascular which results in a chronic fibrcartilaginous scar that covers the fragment, similar to that seen in a fracture 5 9 nonunion. • However, the bone that lies under the femoral base from which the fragment 3 separates has normal vascularity. 10 This is the main distinguishing factor between OeD and osteonecrosis, in which the underlying bone is avascular. Although OeD has been described in detail, the cause of the disorder remains unclear. There has been many proposed etiologies, including trauma, ischemia and I 3 additional factors that may predispose a patient to this disorder. - ,5,6 In a variety of studies, authors have supported a possible etiology as being I trauma. ,2,5,10 Approximately 60% of patients presenting with OeD participate in a high level of athletic activity, and 40% of patients presenting with OeD of the knee have a history of major repetitive knee trauma. 10 Normal knee anatomy may be a causal factor in OeD. The medial tibial spine inserts a broad attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament