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StatPearls, LLC

  • Chronic Pain
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Pain

Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee is a relatively rare condition, categorized as a form of osteonecrosis that affects the subchondral bone. The condition tends to manifest as knee dysfunction and pain, predominantly affecting school-aged children and adolescents. More specifically, in osteochondritis dissecans, a piece of the subchondral bone and articular cartilage detaches from the underlying bone. The ensuing fragment may be either stable, indicating intact overlying articular cartilage, or unstable, which has significant prognostic implications. Osteochondritis dissecans is more prevalent in individuals aged 10 to 20, with a higher incidence in males than females. Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans occurs in patients with open growth plates or physes, whereas osteochondritis dissecans in adults applies to skeletally mature patients. The exact cause of osteochondritis dissecans remains unclear, and individuals with this condition may either present with knee pain as a primary complaint or incidentally discover the findings during radiographs conducted for unrelated injuries. Clinicians typically rely on plain radiographs to diagnose and identify the condition, with magnetic resonance imaging as the primary staging tool. Over 50% of children with osteochondritis dissecans typically recover through conservative measures within 6 to 18 months, whereas adults often necessitate surgical intervention. If the condition is left untreated, affected patients may experience degenerative changes, chronic pain, and mechanical symptoms such as locking and clicking. This topic reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of knee osteochondritis dissecans, providing healthcare professionals with crucial insights to enhance overall patient care for individuals grappling with this uncommon yet potentially debilitating cause of knee pain.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

AAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsNursingUp to 1.5 creditsPharmacyUp to 1.5 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABOS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABPMR — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 1.5 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABPMR — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 9 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • Credit · Up to 1.5 credits
  • MOC · Up to 1.5 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

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