Knee Osteochondral injury

What it is: This involves damage to the cartilage and the bone immediately beneath it. In children and adolescents it often takes the form of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), where a small segment of bone and cartilage loses its blood supply and may begin to separate.

Signs and symptoms: Aching knee pain, swelling, catching or locking, and symptoms that worsen with activity.

Diagnosis: X-rays can show the affected area, and an MRI scan is used to assess how stable the fragment is and whether the cartilage surface is intact.

Treatment: Stable lesions in a growing child often heal with activity modification and time. Unstable or detached fragments may need keyhole surgery to fix the fragment or stimulate healing.

Outlook: Younger children with open growth plates have the best healing potential. Early diagnosis greatly improves the outcome.

When to seek advice: If your child has ongoing knee pain or swelling that doesn't settle, particularly with catching or locking.