Introduction
Osteochondrosis dissecans is the name given to a disease of a joint in which bone tissue in the immediate vicinity of the cartilage of the joint surface is destroyed. As a result, dead bone and/or cartilage fragments can become detached and be freely movable in the joint (a so-called joint mouse). In principle, any joint in the body can be affected, but osteochondrosis dissecans is most frequently found in the knee joint or ankle joint (talus). Mostly children or young adults suffer from this disease, although significantly more men are affected.
Causes
The main cause is a long-term overloading of the ankle joint, during which small injuries to the joint occur repeatedly. Circulatory disorders or a non-physiological development of the bone tissue during growth are also discussed as reasons. Ultimately, however, the development of osteochondrosis dissecans is not yet fully explained.
Symptoms
The main complaint of osteochondrosis dissecans is mainly pain in the talus area (usually only one ankle is affected by the pathological process). These can be located either on the inside or outside of the joint. This is often accompanied by joint effusion, which can eventually lead to swelling of the joint.
This often results in a restriction of the joint’s movement. Both the extension and the flexion of the foot are affected. Under stress, the complaints increase.
These symptoms, however, usually occur only in very advanced stages. Some patients remain symptom-free throughout the entire course of the disease. Nevertheless, if detected, it should be treated, as it significantly increases the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee joint.
Diagnosis
If, after taking the patient’s medical history and physical examination, osteochondrosis dissecans is suspected, it can be confirmed by means of an X-ray. The changes in the joint can be depicted even more reliably by magnetic resonance imaging. By far the most common location for foci of osteochondrosis dissecans in the ankle joint is the inner or outer edge of the joint.
