By: Fatima Ahmed
Dubbed Osgood-Schlatter disease as an ode to a pair of pioneering surgeons whose work would later revolutionize the field of orthopedics, American orthopedist, Robert Osgood and Swiss surgeon, Carl Schlatter, OSD continues to remain at the forefront of prevalent disorders within the subspecialty of sports medicine.
The condition itself is characterized by the presence of painful swelling below the knee joint and occasional inflammation of the patellar tendon. As mentioned earlier in the article, it is a prevalent condition within sports medicine and as such is most commonly diagnosed in patients who participate in jumping/running focused sports.
Produced via a mixture of irritation of the bone growth plate and increased levels of anxiety and stress, the likelihood of receiving a positive diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease is heightened if one regularly engages in activities that place stress on the knee, such as squatting, bending, and running uphill, hence the prevalence of OSD within professional athletes.
Unlike other disorders within the field of orthopedics, and subsequently sports medicine, Osgood-Schlatter disease hardly ever requires urgent surgery. Most typically, the condition will be resolved through a combination of rest and time. Active sports that require pressure to be placed upon the knees should be entirely limited while in rehabilitation. Kneepads and patellar tendon straps may be worn to alleviate the pull on the tibial tubercle. The rehabilitation period itself varies from athlete to athlete and is determined by the individual athlete’s pain tolerance. Stretching is alternatively prescribed by either a primary care physician or a sports medicine physician and can be achieved through personal exercises or professional physical therapy. Medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be utilized to mitigate the pain associated with Osgood-Schlatter disease.
Treatment through surgical means should only be pursued in the case that certain bone fragments have not healed through natural means and the pain persists for an elongated period. However, surgical procedures should never be conducted on growing athletes as they may damage the growth plate.
References:
Gregory, J. R., & Young, C. C. (2019, January 8). Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Background, Etiology, Epidemiology. Medscape Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2022, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1993268-overview
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Osgood-Schlatter Disease. Retrieved March 13, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/osgoodschlatter-disease
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