This study looks at one of the largest groups ever assembled of young people with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee, a condition where a small piece of bone and cartilage becomes unstable. OCD often causes pain and swelling and can lead to early arthritis.
The research team (called the ROCK group) collected information from more than 900 patients across 17 U.S. medical centers. Most patients were kids and teens, with the average age being just over 13. Boys were affected about twice as often as girls.
Key findings:
- The inside of the knee (medial femoral condyle) was the most common spot for OCD lesions.
- Basketball was the top sport linked to boys with OCD, while soccer was most common for girls.
- About 55% of cases required surgery, while others were managed with activity restriction and bracing.
- Many kids had pain for months before being diagnosed, and most didn’t recall a specific injury that started it.
- This ongoing study is following patients long term to learn what causes OCD, why it develops differently in different kids, and which treatments lead to the best outcomes.
