Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse injury, medically known as a traction apophysitis.

It is a disease seen commonly in adolescent boys and is more common in athletes as compared to non-athletes.

The increased activity combined with rapid growth during the adolescent period predisposes athletes to develop this condition.  High intensity sport activity causes repetitive tensile stress over the tendon-tibial tuberosity and results in minor avulsions with an underlying inflammatory reaction.

Clinical presentation

Most commonly seen between 11-year and 13-year-old girls and between 12-year to 15-year old boys.

They generally present with pain over the tibial tubercle just below the knee. The pain is bilateral in only 20%-30% of patients. The pain is usually aggravated by sports involving jumping, squatting, kneeling and is relieved by a period of rest.

Treatment

Treatment is conservative.

• Activity modification
• Rest, Ice
• Short course of NSAIDs are usually used to reduce pain and inflammation
• Massage
• Stretching

Self limiting and will resolve when full skeletal maturity has been achieved.