Highlights & Basics
- Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse syndrome of the pediatric population that results in traction apophysitis of the tibial tubercle.
- Typically occurs during an adolescent growth spurt in young athletes who participate in sports that involve repeated knee flexion and forced extension. Males are affected more often than females.
- Diagnosis is clinical; patients typically present with pain, swelling, warmth, and localized tenderness to palpation over the tibial tubercle.
- Conservative treatment is successful in most patients and consists of activity modification, ice, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
- Plain radiographs of the knee are used to rule out other lesions of the proximal tibia if pain is unilateral and/or severe and persistent.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Citations
Gholve PA, Scher DM, Khakharia S, et al. Osgood Schlatter syndrome. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2007;19:44-50.[Abstract]
Pihlajamäki HK, Mattila VM, Parviainen M, et al. Long-term outcome of surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease in young men. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:2350-2358.[Abstract]
1. Gholve PA, Scher DM, Khakharia S, et al. Osgood Schlatter syndrome. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2007;19:44-50.[Abstract]
2. Kujala UM, Kvist M, Heinonen O. Osgood-Schlatter's disease in adolescent athletes. Retrospective study of incidence and duration. Am J Sports Med. 1985;13:236-241.[Abstract]
3. van Leeuwen GJ, de Schepper EI, Rathleff MS, et al. Incidence and management of Osgood-Schlatter disease in general practice: retrospective cohort study. Br J Gen Pract. 2022 Apr;72(717):e301-6.[Abstract][Full Text]
4. Blankstein A, Cohen I, Heim M. Ultrasonography as a diagnostic modality in Osgood-Schlatter disease. A clinical study and review of the literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2001;121:536-9.[Abstract]
5. Blankstein A, Cohen I, Heim M. Ultrasonography as a diagnostic modality in Osgood-Schlatter disease. A clinical study and review of the literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2001;121:536-539.[Abstract]
6. Frank JB, Jarit GJ, Bravman JT, et al. Lower extremity injuries in the skeletally immature athlete. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2007;15:356-366.[Abstract]
7. Aparicio G, Abril JC, Calvo E, et al. Radiolgic study of patellar height in Osgood-Schlatter disease. J Pediatr Orthop. 1997;17:63-66.[Abstract]
8. Visuri T, Pihlajamaki HK, Mattila VM, et al. Elongated patellae at the final stage of Osgood-Schlatter disease: a radiographic study. Knee. 2007;14:198-203.[Abstract]
9. Jakob RP, von Gumppenberg S, Engelhardt P. Does Osgood-Schlatter disease influence the position of the patella? J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1981;63:579-582.[Abstract]
10. Demirag B, Ozturk C, Yazici Z, et al. The pathophysiology of Osgood-Schlatter disease: a magnetic resonance investigation. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2004;13:379-382.[Abstract]
11. Gigante A, Bevilacqua C, Bonetti MG, et al. Increased external tibial torsion in Osgood-Schlatter disease. Acta Orthop Scand. 2003;74:431-436.[Abstract]
12. Turner MS, Smillie IS. The effect of tibial torsion of the pathology of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1981;63-B(3):396-8.[Abstract]
13. American Academy of Pediatrics - Section on Orthopaedics and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. Five things physicians and patients should question. Choosing Wisely, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation. 2022 [internet publication].[Full Text]
14. Hirano A, Fukubayashi T, Ishii T, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of Osgood-Schlatter disease: the course of the disease. Skeletal Radiol. 2002;31:334-342.[Abstract]
15. Beovich R, Fricker PA. Osgood-Schlatter's disease: a review of literature and an Australian series. Aust J Sci Med Sport. 1988;20:11-13.
16. Hussain A, Hagroo GA. Osgood-Schlatter disease. Sports Exer Injury. 1996;2:202-206.
17. Neuhaus C, Appenzeller-Herzog C, Faude O. A systematic review on conservative treatment options for OSGOOD-Schlatter disease. Phys Ther Sport. 2021 May;49:178-87.[Abstract][Full Text]
18. Topol GA, Podesta LA, Reeves KD, et al. Hyperosmolar dextrose injection for recalcitrant Osgood-Schlatter disease. Pediatrics. 2011;128:1121-1128.[Abstract]
19. Ferciot CF. Surgical management of anterior tibial epiphysis. Clin Orthop. 1955;5:204-206.[Abstract]
20. Thomson JE. Operative treatment of osteochondritis of the tibial tubercle. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1956;38:142-148.[Abstract]
21. Flowers MJ, Bhadreshwar DR. Tibial tubercle excision for symptomatic Osgood-Schlatter disease. J Pediatr Orthop. 1995;15:292-297.[Abstract]
22. Orava S, Malinen L, Karpakka J, et al. Results of surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter lesion. Ann Chir Gynaecol. 2000;89:298-302.[Abstract]
23. Mital MA, Matza RA, Cohen J. The so-called unresolved Osgood-Schlatter lesion: a concept based on fifteen surgically treated lesions. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1980;62:732-739.[Abstract]
24. Glynn MK, Regan BF. Surgical treatment of Osgood-Schlatter's disease. J Pediatr Orthop. 1983;3:216-219.[Abstract]
25. Pihlajamäki HK, Mattila VM, Parviainen M, et al. Long-term outcome of surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease in young men. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:2350-2358.[Abstract]
26. Levine J, Kashyap S. A new conservative treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1981;158:126-128.[Abstract]
