Osgood Schlatter Disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition of painful inflammation at the upper part of the shinbone (tibia), with bony swelling, occurring in some children, especially boys between 10 and 15 years old.
The underlying cause of this condition is overuse of the leg, typically during sports activities. At this age, the quadriceps muscle is stronger than the growth center of the upper shinbone, which has not fully ossified yet, occurring before puberty and closure of growth centers at around 18-20 years old in males. Usually, only one leg is affected by this condition, and the main symptoms include pain and swelling in front of the knee joint under the kneecap. Pain worsens with sports activities that require strong contraction of the quadriceps muscle, such as football. Pain also intensifies during kneeling and sitting in prayer.
The condition is diagnosed through clinical examination, with tenderness noted upon palpating the front part of the knee joint. Sometimes, X-rays may be used for diagnosis. Generally, this disease is considered very mild; pain may increase during sports activities but decreases with rest, completely resolving by the age of 18, leaving only mild protrusion beneath the knee. Treatment involves avoiding football practice, along with mild pain relievers and using ice packs on the affected knee. Surgical treatment to remove the protrusion is rare, as seen in professional football players.
Wishing you all good health and well-being.
Dr. Mahdi Abd Al-Sahib
Orthopedic surgeon
