Many adolescents aged 11-17 years old face the pathology of the patella, under which a painful edema is formed. The problem is aggravated by flexing the limb. The pathology is called Osgood-Schlatter disease, to a greater extent it affects male adolescents involved in sports .
What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?
A variety of osteochondropathy of adolescence was first described in the early twentieth century by two foreign doctors. The pathological condition is characterized by the appearance (without an external cause - a fall, a stroke) of pain when bending the knee and forming a dense swelling beneath it. External inflammatory changes are not noticeable, the patient's condition is assessed as satisfactory. After one knee, another can fall ill - with inherent changes.
Osteochondropathy tuberosity of the tibia is caused by an increased load on the cartilages that are not fully formed. During an active sport, the muscles of the hip stretch the tendons that connect the tibia and the knee cap. There are tendon tears that cause pain and swelling. A child's body can cause bone growth to eliminate a defect, then a small bump appears.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - symptoms
The main factors of the development of Osgood-Schlatter disease are adolescence, male sex (girls 11-13 years old are susceptible to the disease, but to a lesser extent) and participation in sports. If a child regularly engages in gymnastics, hockey, football, figure skating and feels discomfort and tightness under the knee, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms. Osgood-Schlatter's knee joint disease has the following symptoms:
- different strengths of pain under the knee, intensifying after a load;
- pain below the kneecap, in the region of tuberosity;
- swelling of soft tissues;
- tension of the muscles of the thigh, especially the quadriceps.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - X-ray signs
Diagnosis of the condition implies clinical analysis and comparison with radiographic data. If the osteochondropathy of tuberosity of the tibia is diagnosed, the x-ray is more diverse in comparison with other similar pathologies, but less typical. Outwardly, the ailment can be confused with crushing, cracking or distortion of the epiphyseal process. Study of joints reveals the following features of the disease:
- already stiffened epiphyseal process changed form, structure;
- In the region of tuberosity, small "proboscis" are observed;
- small bone fragments are visible, in an amount from 1 to 3;
- in the lateral projection - resolution and fragmentation of the apophysis of the tuberosity region.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - stage and degree of development
Diagnosis of osteochondropathy does not cause difficulties when the course of pathology is typical. The patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic treatment depending on the radiographic picture and how Osgood-Schlatter disease manifests itself; stages differ in the degree of severity of symptoms.
In the course of the disease, three degrees are distinguished:
- The first. Symptoms are minimal, external manifestations are absent, but pain appears.
- The second - the pain becomes more intense, there is a knoll under the knee.
- The third - the disease is accompanied by constant discomfort, pain, external signs are obvious.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - treatment
Inflammatory process in young athletes, as a rule, goes by itself during the year. With age, bone tissue stops growing and pathology disappears. Osgood-Schlatter disease does not carry danger and implies moderate therapy. After the first course, which lasts from 3 months. up to six months, the disease must retreat. In other cases, a positive result is observed after 9-12 months. or does not come at all. How to treat Osgood-Schlatter disease in conservative ways:
- ensuring complete rest for the affected area;
- use of orthopedic bandage for the duration of sports;
- reduction of inflammation;
- normalization of the process of bone formation of apophysis;
- massage;
- gymnastics;
- physiotherapy.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - LFK
If the symptoms are pronounced, the Osgood-Schlatter disease in adolescents is bright, the treatment includes physical education (LFK). Exercises are necessary for stretching the quadriceps muscle, the reproductive tendons. These measures can reduce the burden on the area where the tendon of the knee is attached to the tibia. Regular exercise LFK - specifically exercises to strengthen the hip muscles - stabilize and the knee joint. Patients can exercise independently, under the supervision of doctors or in a special sanatorium.
Tapping with Osgood-Schlatter disease
Active athletes, faced with an unpleasant pathology, can continue to play sports due to modern methods of treatment. Among them - typing , the imposition of special fixing tapes of elastic cotton on the affected areas. The procedure is shown when the osteochondropathy of tibial tuberosity in children and adolescents does not interfere with normal life and needs only correction. By wearing the tape, you can achieve a reduction in pain syndrome, normalization of muscular work and limb movement.
Patient with Osgood-Schlatter disease
Knee joints are used to fix the knee. Their wearing helps prevent the development of pathology, speed up the healing process. Three types of the product are used:
- bandage;
- brace ;
- orthosis.
In the first case, a knee is worn on the knee - soft, medium or hard, depending on the goal (prevention, protection, pain reduction). More rigid braces regulate the range of knee flexion. You can do exercises without loading the joints. Orthosis with Osgood-Schlatter disease rigidly fixes the joint in a certain position. It relieves local pressure, positively affects the knee tendon.
Electrophoresis in Osgood-Schlatter disease
Patients with severe injuries - at the second and third stages of pathology development - are shown physiotherapeutic treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease. Osteochondropathy of tibial tuberosity is eliminated by administering drugs under the skin with the help of an electric current ( electrophoresis ). Duration of the procedure is 3-4 months. Medicines are used different:
- A moderate stage of pathology development is cured with a 2% solution of lidocaine followed by a substitution for nicotinic acid (niacin) and calcium chloride.
- The heavy stage involves electrophoresis with Aminophylline, Potassium iodine, and then with the same components as in the first case (CaCl2 + niacin).
Osgood-Schlatter disease - treatment with folk remedies
Alternative medicine can bring relief with many ailments associated with diseases of the knees. These include osteochondropathy tuberosity of the tibia. Osgood-Schlatter's disease recedes faster with the following home methods:
- oil compresses;
- lotion;
- paraffin bath.
Ointments and lotions from the herbs act well as an auxiliary therapy (but with the permission of the doctor).
A few recipes:
- Shredded yarrow and St. John's wort are mixed in the same proportion, added to melted pork fat. The remedy is put on a small fire for 15 minutes, cool. It is used as an ointment.
- 1.5 tbsp. a spoonful of celandine is added to 200 ml of boiled water. The ointment is insisted in the heat for 30 minutes, then filtered. The liquid is smeared with gauze, a knee is applied and fixed with a bandage.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - operation
It is extremely rare when osteochondropathy is prescribed surgical intervention. This happens if, in the diagnosis of Osgood Schlatter's disease, the X-ray revealed the separation of large fragments from the tibia, or none of the conservative therapies yielded results. Additional condition - the patient must be over 14 years old. How to cure Osgood-Schlatter disease in difficult cases? The operation consists either in removing the bone fragments (made openly through the incision), or in fixing them to the tuberosity.
Osgood-Schlatter disease - limitations
After eliminating all the irritating factors, ensuring rest for the injured knee and carrying out a complex of moderate therapy, the patient should continue to observe the precautionary measures. To prevent Osgood-Schlatter disease in adolescents in the future, it is necessary to give unloading to the joint, avoid provocateurs of the disease (jumping, running, standing on the knees). You can replace the usual sports for more loyal (swimming, biking), although, as a rule, after the treatment is over, restrictions on playing sports are removed.
Preventive measures are not always a guarantee that the disease will not manifest itself again. Any microtrauma can develop into Osgood-Schlatter disease, if you do not notice it in time and start treatment. At risk, there are always children and adolescents whose constant activity (dancing, sports) carries the danger of injuring the lower extremities. For professional athletes, daily foot care should become a customary ritual. Only in this way it is possible to maintain leg health and avoid osteochondropathy.