User:Conradbolz/Osgood–Schlatter disease

Osgood Schlatter’s disease resolves or becomes asymptomatic in majority of cases. One study showed that 90% of reported patients had symptom resolution in 12-24 months. Because of this short symptomatic period with most patients, the number of people who become diagnosed is a fraction of the true number.

For adolescents between the ages of 12-15, there is a disease prevalence of 9.8% with a greater 11.4% in males and 8.3% in females. Osgood-Schlatter’s disease presents bilaterally in a range of about 20%-30% of patients.

It was found that the leading cause for the incidence of the disease was regular sport practicing and shortening of the rectus femoris muscle in adolescents that were in the pubertal phase. For there is a 76% prevalence of patients with a shortened rectus femoris in those who suffer from the Osgood-Schlatter’s disease. This risk ratio shows the anatomical relationship between the tibial tuberosity and the quadriceps muscle group, which connect through the patella and its ligamentous structures.

In a survey of patients with the diagnosis, 97% reported to have pain during palpation over the tibial tuberosity. The high risk ratio with people with the disease and palpatory pain is likely the reason that the number one diagnosis method is with physical examination, rather than imaging as most bone pathologies are diagnosed.

Research suggests that Osgood-Schlatter’s disease also increases the risk of tibial fractures. It’s possible that the rapid tuberosity bone development and other changes to the proximal aspect of the knee with those who suffer from the disease is the culprit to the increased risk.

Because increased activity is a risk factor for developing Osgood-Schlatter’s, there is also research that may suggest children and adolescents with ADHD are at higher risk. Increased activity and stress on the tibial tuberosity would be greater in a more active population in the 9-16 age bracket, but this study was still not sure which factor of ADHD was the exact reason for the higher incidence.