Osteochondritis Dissecans of a Joint
Topic Overview
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition in which a piece of
bone or cartilage (or both) inside a joint loses blood supply and dies. OCD may
be caused by injury or overuse from an activity that repeatedly jams one bone
end against another.
OCD may not cause any symptoms, or symptoms may begin suddenly,
develop gradually, or come and go. The condition may be discovered by accident
if an X-ray is taken for another reason.
Symptoms of OCD may include:
- Pain.
- Swelling.
- Grating
in the joint.
- Decreased joint movement.
- Locking of the
joint.
Symptoms that begin suddenly may be caused by a piece of bone or
cartilage that has broken loose and moved into the
joint. Degenerative
arthritis may develop in the area affected by
OCD.
Treatment focuses on resting the joint to allow the cartilage and
bone to heal and the swelling to decrease. The bone may take a full year to
heal. Surgery may be necessary to remove or repair loose pieces of bone.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
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| Last Revised | October 4, 2012 |
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Last Revised:
October 4, 2012
