Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Pediatric and Adolescent Knee

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee in pediatric and adolescent patients remains an incompletely understood entity, with multiple theories proposed for its underlying cause and variable treatment modalities. In addition to the importance of history and examination, treatment is primarily guided by lesion stability, which can be determined by MRI and arthroscopic findings. Other important factors that can influence healing include patient skeletal maturity, lesion location, and the size of the lesion. The purpose of this article is to review the most current epidemiology, classification, and pathoanatomy of the disease and discuss the different treatment options.