Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) Treatment
Osteochondritis dissecans is a bone disorder that primarily affects adolescents and children, causing lesions on the ends of major bones in joints. This condition can cause joint pain and swelling, as well as damage to the affected bones and cartilage. Our orthopedic specialists at DOCS Health offer advanced osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) treatment at our medical center in Los Angeles.
The ends of bones in major joints like the knee, ankle and elbow are covered with articular cartilage to protect them from friction within the joints. OCD results in a portion of the head of a bone and the cartilage over it to begin to separate from the rest of the bone. A loss of blood supply to the portion of the bone is what creates the lesion. Why the blood supply is interrupted is not known, but it could be caused by stress to the bone. OCD tends to occur most often in the knee joint on the end of the femur, as well as in the elbow and ankle joints.
Symptoms of OCD
When OCD occurs, the bone and cartilage in the lesion can begin to crack and loosen. This change in the bone results in pain and swelling in the affected joint. Physical activity can increase the pain in the joint. As the lesion worsens, the portion of bone and cartilage can become loose, resulting in catching or locking of the joint during movement.
In most cases, osteochondritis dissecans treatment is conservative. Once diagnosed, the individual should abstain from rigorous activity to allow the joint and bone to heal on its own. Most children and adolescents can recover from OCD without extensive treatment. A splint or cast may be recommended, as well as assistive devices, like crutches, to allow the bone to heal.
In more severe cases where conservative OCD treatment is ineffective, surgery may be required to repair the damage to the bone. If there is still pain or the lesion has separated from the bone, surgical intervention may be recommended.
If you or your child has symptoms of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a diagnosis and treatment are available at DOCS Health. Contact our orthopedic clinic in Los Angeles to schedule your appointment.
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.