Osgood-Schlatter

The Osgood-Schlatter disease, named after the two surgeons who first described this condition, also known as osteochondrosis, tibial tubercle apophysitis, or traction apophysitis of the tibial tubercle, is a common condition that affects skeletally immature population provoking anterior knee pain at the insertion site of the patellar tendon, in the tibial tuberosity (lump located few centimetres below the kneecap). This condition is atraumatic (no injury reported by the patient) and has a progressive insidious onset starting with some sensitivity at palpation of the tibial tuberosity and potentially evolving into a high level of pain that can impede physical activities and sports. The condition is secondary to the repetitive strain and high forces generated through the quadriceps muscle that are transmitted to the relatively soft apophysis of the tibial tubercle (the location where the quadriceps muscle inserts through the patellar tendon). All the transmitted forces lead to repetitive tractions of the tubercle and apophysis, leading in this way to localised swelling and pain. Due to its particular aetiology, the Osgood-Schlatter disease is primarily developed in active young athletes often involved in high-impactful sports that include a significant amount of jumping and landing activities (e.g.: soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc.).