Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Appearance, Diagnosis and Treatment: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Osgood-Schlatter disease is the most common osteochondritis of the lower limb in sport-practicing children and adolescents. Its manifestation usually coincides with the appearance of the secondary ossification center of the tibia and is linked to the practice of sports with an explosive component. In the present study, a review of the factors related to its appearance, diagnosis and treatment was carried out. Its appearance seems to be multifactorial and related to multiple morphological, functional, mechanical and environmental factors. Given all the above, risk factor reduction and prevention seem the most logical strategies to effectively prevent the appearance of the condition. In addition, it is essential to create prevention programs that can be objectively assessed and would allow to stop the progress of the pathology, particularly in those sports where high forces are generated on the insertion zone of the patellar tendon at sensitive ages. More studies are needed to clarify which type of treatment is the most appropriate-specific exercises or the usual care treatment.

Keywords: Osgood-Schlatter; apophysitis; knee pathology; patellar tendon; patellar tendonitis; tibial tuberosity.

Figure 1

Illustration of the typical features of Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Figure 2

Flow diagram of the study selection.