Osteochondritis Dissecans

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition that affects your joints. It usually develops in children, teens and young adults.

A joint is any place in your body where two bones meet. Osteochondritis dissecans affects the end of one bone in a joint. It cuts off blood supply to a section of the bone which makes it soften and weaken. Eventually, the affected section of bone dies and separates from the rest of your bone. This can pull some cartilage with it. OCD leaves a lesion (mark) where the bone and cartilage break off.

The loose bone and cartilage might remain in place or move into another area of your joint. This can make the joint unsteady or painful. You might not feel any symptoms for a long time. It can take months or even years for osteochondritis dissecans to develop.

OCD usually affects joints like your:

• Knees.
• Elbows.
• Ankles.
• Shoulders.
• Hips.

It’s most common to develop OCD in your knee, specifically at the inside edge at the bottom of your femur (thigh bone) — the medial femoral condyle.

Types of osteochondritis dissecans

There are two types of osteochondritis dissecans:

• Sporadic osteochondritis dissecans: This is OCD that happens in one joint, usually without a known cause.
• Familial osteochondritis dissecans: This type of OCD is an inherited genetic disorder. Biological parents may pass it on to their children. It can affect multiple joints throughout your lifetime. People with familial OD usually have a shorter stature and develop osteoarthritis earlier than usual.