Osteochondral Lesions

Overview

Osteochondral Lesions or Ostechodritis Dessicans are lesions of the knee joint (lower end femur, patella, upper end tibia) that involve both the bone and the overlying cartilage. It could be because of a single trauma or repeated trauma. These can cause blistering or fracture of the cartilage and bone, the fragment may separate.

Symptoms

The symptoms vary from pain, swelling, locking, instability, tenderness to touch over affected area and reduced range of motion.

 

Investigations

  1. X-Ray – The Ostechondral Lesion should show up on an X-Ray.
  2. MRI Scan – These magnetic scans are used for diagnosis of soft tissue, cartilages and bony pathology. They also help to tell us about the size, site and status of the lesion.

 

Treatment

Rest, Ice packs, physiotherapy and analgesics may help to reduce the pain and swelling.

Depending on the status of the lesion, the age of the patient, treatment varies from non-operative to arthroscopic debridement, fixation or micro-fracture, removal of the loose fragment. It may also be necessary to transfer bone and cartilage to the Osteochondral Lesion.

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CONTACT MR. GOEL