Abstract
The etiology of Osgood-Schlatter's disease remains a topic for debate. Previous studies by Ogden and Southwick (Osgood-Schlatter's disease and tibial tu bercle development. Clin Orthop 116: 180-189, 1976) strongly support the concept of multiple mi croavulsions of the anterior surface of the developing ossification center of the tibial tubercle as the under lying cause.
Orthopaedic literature fails to associate Osgood- Schlatter's disease with traumatic disruption of the extensor mechanism of the knee. Though the mech anism of injury for such trauma is as common as Osgood-Schlatter's disease itself, such occurrences are rare.
Failure of the point of attachment of the patellar tendon in a patient with markedly symptomatic Os good-Schlatter's disease tends to confirm the etio logic concept of Ogden and Southwick.
Patients with markedly symptomatic Osgood- Schlatter's disease who engage in activities involving rapid deceleration or vigorous vertical acceleration are in a relatively high risk category for disruption of the extensor mechanism. Traumatic avulsion of the patellar tendon in such a patient establishes this re lationship.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.