Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD) is an apophysitis, inflammatory and stress injury, of the patellar tendon’s attachment to the tibial tubercle. This is a common condition of anterior knee pain in the adolescent athletic population. The condition can present from repetitive extension activities such as sprinting and jumping but can also be insidious and atraumatic in nature. These activities may lead to traction and irritation of the tubercle and avulsion fracture of the tibial tubercle apophysis in severe cases.
Risk Factors include skeletally immature males (12-15 years old) or girls (8-12 years old) that participate in sporting activities such as basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and running /sprinting. Sudden growth spurts are also a common risk factor. Predisposing factors include poor flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstrings or other evidence of extensor mechanism misalignment. Symptoms can present bilaterally in about 20-30% of patients.
Treatment should include a combination of temporary rest and activity modification, icing, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Conservative management is advised in most cases. Low-intensity isometric quadriceps exercises and gentle stretching of the hamstring and quadriceps can also be introduced. Symptom reduction through McConnell’s taping is another option to deload the area during its recovery.