My Orthopaedic Surgeon

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) may occur in many joints, most commonly, the knee joint. This chapter focuses on the OCD of the knee. The etiology may be traumatic, vascular, genetic, or idiopathic. To recognize the lesion, special attention should be paid to plain radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging is helpful in detecting the osteochondral defect. The prognosis of patients with OCD depends on several factors, including patient age and lesion size, location, and chronicity.

Contents - Introduction Indications Relevant Anatomy And Contraindications Workup Treatment Complications Outcome And Prognosis Future And Controversies Pictures Bibliography
Synonyms and related keywords: OCD, osteochondral fragments, juvenile osteochondritis dissecans, adult osteochondritis dissecans, OCD of the knee, OCD of the elbow, OCD of the ankle, knee OCD, ankle OCD, lower extremity OCD, upper extremity OCD, elbow OCD, adult OCD, osteochondral loose bodies, elbow injury, knee injury, ankle injury, knee surgery, elbow surgery, ankle surgery
In OCD, a fragment of cartilage and subchondral bone separates from an articular surface. In 1840, Pare was first to describe the surgical removal of loose bodies, presumably osteochondral fragments, from joints. For many years, the treatment of choice for OCD remained either arthrotomy with removal of the loose osteochondral fragment or conservative, nonoperative management. The latter option remains the treatment of choice for patients with early disease and open physes. In contrast, surgical options have traditionally included drilling of the site of the defect, removing the loose body, fixing the loose body to the site of separation, and placing osteochondral grafts. Current operative methods include fixation of the lesion, drilling of the site of the defect with removal of loose bodies, and, most recently, autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty and autologous chondrocyte transplantation.

Full Text. report of 4 cases of short stature and multiple joint OCD
WHITE J.J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1957 May;39-B(2):261-7

Mayo Clinic Patient Information on OCD of the knee

Professional/High Grade Patient Information
Contents - Epidemiology, Presentation (signs& symptoms), Differential Diagnosis, Investigations, Management, References

Osteochondritis dissecans: analysis of mechanical stability with radiography, scintigraphy, and MR imaging.
Twenty-one joints with stable (n = 9) or loose (n = 12) osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions were examined in 15 subjects with plain radiography, three-phase bone scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The lesion size and the thickness of the sclerotic margin as measured on plain radiographs were good parameters for predicting loosening. However, bone scintigraphy was more sensitive and specific in determining the mechanical stability of OCD lesions. MR imaging permitted direct visualization of loosening and fragment displacement; the latter permits differentiation of in situ loosening from a grossly unstable lesion. The noninvasive nature of bone scintigraphy and MR imaging makes them potentially preferable diagnostic modalities to arthrography for evaluating the mechanical status of OCD lesions.
Mesgarzadeh M, Sapega AA, Bonakdarpour A, Revesz G, Moyer RA, Maurer AH, Alburger PD. Radiology. 1987 Dec;165(3):775-80

osteochondrosis (aka osteochondritis) dissecans

Contents - Introduction Differentials Radiograph CT Scan MRI Ultrasound Nuclear Medicine Intervention Pictures Bibliography
Synonyms and related keywords: osteochondral fracture, osteochondrosis, osteochondral defect, osteochondral lesion, OCD
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a term for osteochondral fracture. An osteochondral fragment may be present in situ, incompletely detached, or completely detached. A completely detached fragment is a loose body