Osteochondritis

Question 1

What is osteochondritis (2)

Answer 1

occurs in children and young adults and may be due to increased physical activity with repetitive stress (compression or traction).

Bone necrosis ensues resulting in compression, fragmentation or separation of bone and may cause flattening and incongruence of a joint or a pothole on the surface.

Question 2

risk factors (2)

Answer 2

familial predisposition whilst some cases may have an underlying coagulopathy.

(Recurrent) Impact or traction injuries cause bleeding and oedema within the bone, resulting in capillary compression.

Question 3

symptoms

Answer 3

Pain and progression to arthritis at a young age if a joint is involved may follow.

Question 4

Common sites affected (5)

Answer 4

Common sites affected by compression include
2nd metatarsal head (known as Freiburg’s disease)

the navicular bone (known as Kohler’s disease)

the lunate of the carpus (known as Kienbock’s disease

the capitellum of the elbow (known as Panner’s disease).

Vertebral compression can also occur (Scheuermann’s disease).