OCE – Repair of Osteochondritis Dissecans
Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee is identified with increasing frequency in the young adult patient. Left untreated, osteochondritis dissecans can lead to the development of osteoarthritis at an early age, resulting in progressive pain and disability. Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans may include nonoperative or operative intervention.
Treatment
Your doctor may recommend surgery if:
- Nonsurgical treatment fails to relieve pain and swelling
- The lesion is separated or detached from the surrounding bone and cartilage, moving around within the joint
- The lesion is very large (greater than 1 centimeter in diameter), especially in older teens
There are different surgical techniques for treating OCD, depending upon the individual case.
- Drilling into the lesion to create pathways for new blood vessels to nourish the affected area. This will encourage healing of the surrounding bone.
- Holding the lesion in place with internal fixation (such as pins and screws).
- Replacing the damaged area with a new piece of bone and cartilage (called a graft). This can help regenerate healthy bone and cartilage in the area damaged by OCD.
In general, crutches are required for about 6 weeks after surgical treatment, followed by a 2- to 4-month course of physical therapy to regain strength and motio