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Osteochondrosis is a disease that destroys bone tissue, affecting growing bones in children and adolescents. The causes are unknown, but genetics, rapid bone growth, poor diet, stress, and overuse of joints may play a role. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, and reduced range of motion. Treatment varies, and the outcome depends on the location and severity of the disease.
Osteochondrosis refers to a number of diseases that destroy bone tissue. The condition affects the growing bone, or epiphysis, and is therefore generally found in the joints of children and adolescents. A lack of blood supply to the bone destroys it, and although it is gradually replaced over a number of years, growth progress is retarded. It is also sometimes referred to as osteochondritis.
The underlying causes of osteochondrosis are unknown. Some possible culprits are genetics, rapid bone growth, or poor diet. In some cases, stress and overuse of the joint appear to play a role.
Any bone in the body can be affected, but some areas tend to be affected more often than others. Osteochondrosis that occurs in those areas often called diseases associated with it. The most common is Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome, which affects the hip joint. Some others include Freiburg’s disease and Kohler’s disease, which affect both bones in the feet, and Panner’s disease, which affects the elbow.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis typically include pain, tenderness, and sometimes swelling at the site of bone loss. Depending on where the condition occurs, the patient’s range of motion may be reduced. A rare form of the disease, osteochondritis dissecans, causes irregularities and fragmentation of bone and cartilage that can lead to stiffness and blockage of the joint. Scheuermann’s disease, which occurs in the spine, can cause curvature of the spine and an inability to correct one’s posture.
A physical exam by a doctor is the first step in diagnosing the condition. Follow-up with X-rays typically comes later to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the damage. A bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be helpful in some cases.
Treatments can vary and often depend on which bones are involved. Limiting pressure to the site is usually recommended until the disease runs its course. Sometimes a brace or cast can be used to support the bone and limit bone deterioration. Physical therapy and surgery may be needed to strengthen the area and repair the damage. In some cases, no treatment may be needed.
The outcome for people with osteochondrosis can also vary significantly, depending on where it occurs in the body and when it’s diagnosed. Some forms of the disease cause relatively little damage, and patients can expect a near full recovery over time. Other forms can lead to complications such as deformities, arthritis, or joints that require replacement.
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