Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment Options
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Many people with OCD don’t have pain and can live normal lives. If symptoms appear, there are non-surgical options:
- Restrict Weight Bearing: Put minimal to no weight on the injured extremity to allow the lesion to stabilize and heal.
- Rest: Take breaks from activities that cause pain.
- Ice and Compression: Applying ice packs can help reduce swelling but remember to put a cloth between the ice and your skin.
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help manage pain and reduce swelling.
- Physical Therapy: A therapist can guide you through exercises to strengthen the knee and improve stability.
- Bracing: An unloader brace can provide support and relief by taking pressure off the injured area.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections can help with pain but won’t heal the injury. They also delay any possible surgery for a few months.
If non-surgical treatments don’t help, surgery might be necessary. The goal is to relieve pain and restore knee function. The type of surgery depends on what the doctor finds during an initial evaluation.
- Diagnostic Knee Arthroscopy: A small camera is used to look inside the knee and assess the OCD lesion. If the detached fragment includes bone, it may be reattached. If it’s just cartilage, the loose part will be smoothed out or removed if loose. If the lesion is stable and not healing, we can drill behind it to improve the blood flow and help it heal.
- Cartilage Restoration:
- Allograft: Using cartilage from a donor to fill the defect. This is best for larger lesions.
- Autograft: Taking cartilage from a less-used part of your knee and transplanting it to the injured area. This is better for smaller injuries.
If OCD isn’t treated, it can lead to serious long-term issues:
- Further Damage: You might suffer more injuries to the ligaments, meniscus, or other cartilage, leading to instability.
- Osteoarthritis: There’s a higher risk of developing arthritis, which causes pain and swelling.
- Quality of Life: Ongoing pain and limited movement can make it hard to do everyday activities or play sports.
If you think you might have OCD or are experiencing knee pain, it’s important to see a doctor for evaluation and treatment options.
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