What is an Osteochondral Injury?
Osteochondral injuries refer to damage to the smooth ends of bones within a joint. “Osteo” refers to the bone and “chondro” refers to articular cartilage that covers the ends of bone to protect it from friction. An osteochondral injury may occur in a variety of joints, but it is more common in the knee and ankle joints and can cause an osteochondral defect (OCD). Our orthopedic specialists at DOCS Health offer osteochondral defect (OCD) injury treatment at our medical center in Los Angeles.
What Causes an Osteochondral Defect (OCD) Injury?
The exact cause of osteochondral defect (OCD) injuries is not always known. In some cases, the ends of the bones may be weaker due to reduced blood supply to the bone, resulting in lesions to the ends of the bone. Trauma can contribute to an OCD injury in the knee or ankle, but it is not the only cause of this condition. Fragments of bone and cartilage can become loose within the joint, causing swelling, pain and discomfort.
Treatment for OCD Ankle Injuries
The talus bone in the ankle is a common spot for OCD injuries. An ankle fracture or sprain can contribute to OCD injuries, causing pain and ankle instability. Treatment for OCD ankle injuries depends on a variety of factors, including the age, activity level, health and symptoms of the patient. Both conservative, non-surgical treatments and orthopedic surgery can be used for OCD injury treatment for ankles, knees and other affected joints.
To find out answers to questions about osteochondral injuries and other types of ankle and bone issues, contact our experienced orthopedic team at DOCS Health in Los Angeles if you need treatment for an osteochondral defect injury. We offer advanced treatments for all types of orthopedic injuries, including OCD ankle injuries.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.