Osgood-Schlatter disease

Last reviewed: 2 Sep 2023
Last updated: 07 Mar 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • pain at the tibial tubercle
  • localized tenderness
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • activity limitation
  • localized swelling
  • localized warmth
  • prominence of the tibial tubercle
  • pain at the tubercle with resisted knee extension
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • adolescent males
  • athletic participation
  • history OSD in the contralateral knee
  • high position of the patella (patella alta)
  • more proximal/broader tibial attachment of the patella tendon
  • increased external tibial torsion
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • plain radiographs
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • ultrasonography
  • MRI
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

early stage

ONGOING

progressive or late stage

persistence of pain into late adolescence or adulthood

Contributors

Authors

Alexander Golant, MD
Alexander Golant

Attending Physician

Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

New York-Presbyterian-Queens

Flushing

Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

New York

NY

Disclosures

AG declares that he has no competing interests.

Jeffrey Rosen, MD

Chairman

Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

New York-Presbyterian-Queens

Flushing

Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

New York

NY

Disclosures

JR is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Jeffrey Rosen and Dr Alexander Golant would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Jonathan Naysan. JN declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Paul M. Sethi, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Specialists PC

Greenwich

CT

Disclosures

PMS declares that he has no competing interests.

Andreas Roposch, MD, MSc, FRCS

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Reader in Clinical Epidemiology and Surgery

UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

AR declares that he has no competing interests.

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer