Osgood Schlatter Disease (OSD) is a common condition affecting children and adolescents during rapid growth. It causes knee pain just below the kneecap, where the patellar tendon attaches to the tibial tuberosity, a bony bump on the shinbone.
Understanding Osgood Schlatter Disease
OSD is characterized by inflammation of the tibial tuberosity growth plate at the top of the shinbone. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and tenderness below the kneecap, often worsening with physical activity. Repetitive knee stress from activities like running, jumping, and sports commonly triggers symptoms, especially during growth spurts. It is considered an overuse injury.
Rapid adolescent growth can create imbalances, increasing tension. When quadriceps muscles contract, they pull on the patellar tendon, irritating the developing growth plate and causing inflammation and pain. OSD is more prevalent in active children, particularly boys aged 10-15 and girls aged 8-13, involved in sports like basketball, soccer, and gymnastics.
OSD and Growth Plates
Growth plates (epiphyseal plates) are cartilage areas near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. They are where new bone tissue forms, allowing bones to lengthen. Being softer than mature bone, growth plates are vulnerable to stress during rapid growth.
OSD specifically affects the tibial tuberosity growth plate, an attachment site for the patellar tendon. It is a localized inflammatory response to repetitive stress and microtrauma. This condition does not interfere with other growth plates or overall bone development.
Impact on Height and Resolution
Osgood Schlatter Disease does not affect a child’s final adult height in the vast majority of cases. The inflammation and irritation are localized to the tibial tuberosity growth plate and do not impact the primary growth plates responsible for the overall lengthening of the leg bones.
The condition typically resolves completely once the growth plate at the tibial tuberosity fuses and hardens into solid bone, which usually occurs in late adolescence. Symptoms often subside as the child matures and skeletal growth concludes, with resolution commonly occurring between 14 and 18 years of age. Management strategies primarily focus on alleviating symptoms until natural resolution, including rest, applying ice to the affected area, stretching exercises for the quadriceps, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
OSD is considered a self-limiting condition, meaning it resolves on its own over time without causing long-term damage or affecting stature. While a bony bump may persist at the tibial tuberosity, it is typically painless and does not impact function or height.