Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe a clinical evaluation of the etiological factors in osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee from radiographic and arthroscopic findings.
Twenty-two knees of 20 patients (16 male and 4 female, 16.1 years old in average at surgery) with symptomatic OCD of the femoral condyle were studied.
The medial femoral condyles were affected in 16 knees of 14 patients (medial group) and the lateral femoral condyle in 6 knees of 6 patients (lateral group). These two groups were compared using radiological location and arthroscopic findings. In radiography, the location of OCD was classified in accordance with Cahill et al. (1989). On the anteroposterior view, five zones were numbered 1 to 5 from medial to lateral. On the lateral view, three zones were labeled A,B and C from anterior to posterior.
In the medial group, the locations of OCD were 23BC(12), 2BC(1), 23ABC(1) and 23C(2); 14(88%) of 16 knees involved in non-meniscal area. In the lateral group, the locations of OCD were 45C(4), 5C(1) and 4BC(1); 5(83%) of 6 knees involved in meniscal area. In arthroscopy the medial group did not have medial meniscal tear, while the lateral group had 5 lateral meniscal lesions of 6 knees; 3 discoid meniscus (2 with tear and 1 without tear), 2 bucket-handle type tear and one no meniscal lesion.
Lateral meniscal lesions (with or without discoid) might cause OCD of the lateral femoral condyle. In the medial femoral condyle, we thought that OCD did not relate to meniscal lesions.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Simon Donell. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Orthopaedics, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Level 4, Centre Block, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, United Kingdom.
