Osteochondritis Dissecans is an acquired joint defect which involves the subchondral bone and the overlying articular cartilage. The cause of osteochondritis dissecans is not fully understood. Osteochondritis dissecans can often be a progressive pathologic process: evolving to joint deformity and occasionally bone and cartilage fragmentation to intra-articular cartilage instability. When osteochondritis dissecans affects the ankle it typically occurs on the inner or medial portion of the ankle (talus). The bone lesions on the lateral or outside portion of the talus are most often related to trauma. Most cases of osteochondritis dissecans of the talus occur around the time of skeletal maturity (10-14 years of age for girls and 12-16 years of age for boys). There is an increasing prevalence of this condition in athletic teenage girls. Relative to osteochondritis dissecans of the knee, the ankle lesions tend to be smaller, more difficult to diagnose and less likely to heal despite treatment efforts. The osteochondritis dissecans lesion is an area of the bone within a joint that has deterioration and softening and subsequent overlying cartilage damage. This can result in detachment of the softened bone and cartilage leaving a crater in the bone that is exposed to the joint surface and a loose fragment within the joint.
Etiology
Although the exact cause of osteochondritis dissecans is unknown, there are several factors such as high demand impact sports, underlying disease conditions, local bone blood flow and genetic factors. Most cases of osteochondritis dissecans do not run in families. Increased incidence of osteochondritis dissecans in the ankle is seen in developing bone and joints that are subject to large amounts of physical activity. This includes the year around sports and significant impact activity such as running, gymnastics, soccer and basketball as well as training at a high level of intensity, that is, everyday with minimal rest between activities. Chronic repetitive micro trauma may lead to stress within the subchondral bone which results in bone necrosis, softening, desiccation and separation.
Evaluation
Osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle tends to have a low level of chronic persistent pain, a variable amount of swelling which is often intermittent and not severe. A history of locking, catching or ankle sprains on multiple occasions is common. There is often a history of multiple ankle problems that do not have a clear cause or diagnosis. Physical findings are relatively minimal with pain to palpation over the anterior aspect of the ankle. Rarely are there any limitations of joint range of motion. Routine x-rays of the ankle can easily miss a small osteochondritis dissecans lesion, so it often goes undiagnosed for a long period of time. Oblique and plantar flexion radiographs of the right ankle generally will improve the visualization of the osteochondral lesions often because they are in the posterior aspect of the talus. Even the smallest osteochondritis dissecans lesion will appear on a MRI of the ankle and talus region. MRI is the single best study for both the diagnosis and prognosis of the osteochondritis dissecans lesion of the talus. Occasionally other studies may be helpful such as a computed tomography (CT scan) to further define the anatomy of the lesion and occasionally a bone scan is helpful to judge the ability of the lesion to heal and help manage a treatment protocol.
Non-operative Treatment
The goal of non-operative treatment is to promote healing in the subchondral bone and prevent chondral collapse, subsequent fracture and significant crater formation. The treatment options depend on the skeletal maturity of the patient, size and stability of the lesion as well as the location of the lesion within the bone. Non-surgical treatment is the treatment of choice for small skeletal lesions in skeletally immature patients with no signs of instability on a MRI. Initial treatment has traditionally been non-operative. Symptoms often resolving after a period of non weight bearing and activity modifications but rarely does the lesion resolve radiographically. Non operative treatment usually requires the patient to be nonweightbearing for a minimum of 6 weeks with activity restrictions and the use of a cast and/or brace. These are typically monitored by interval radiographs and occasional use repeat MRIs. Lesions that are symptomatically resolved but not radiographically resolved need persistent follow up even if the child has returned to full physical activity. It is not uncommon for lesions that are unresolved radiographically to have reoccurrence of symptoms when activities resume or within 6-12 months of initial treatment. Other non-operative measures have been proposed such as electrical bone stimulators. To date there is no clear data regarding the benefits of these adjunct therapies. If non-operative treatments have failed to control symptoms after a period of 3-9 months other forms of more invasive treatment may be necessary.
Operative Treatment
The goals of operative treatment are the same as the goals for non-operative management. Some more advancement lesions need to be managed surgically. Operative treatment is the treatment of choice for patients with unstable or detached lesions or failed non-operative management and for patients that are at or past skeletal maturity. Surgical attempts to improve the healing of the osteochondritis dissecans lesion to the native bone, stabilize loose fragments or to replace defective tissue with either an autograft or allograft transfer osteochondral tissue. Operative treatment also provides the benefit of a more dynamic assessment of the lesion and the severity of lesion instability and assessment of injury to the overlying cartilage. The treatment for stable lesions with intact articular cartilage often involves drilling the subchondral bone with the intention of stimulating vascular ingrowth and subchondral bone healing. If the lesion is unstable or hinged, fixation is often indicated in an attempt to heal the lesion back to native bone. Occasionally bone grafting is indicated in unstable lesions that do not have significant joint congruity to allow restoration of articular congruency and enhance the healing potential. Fixation of these lesions can be performed using metal screws, wires, or bioabsorbable nails. Associated complications can include pin migration, adjacent cartilage damage, hardware failure, failure of healing and the need for repeat surgery. If the fixation of the lesion is not possible and the lesion needs to be debrided there are several salvage techniques for full thickness defects including marrow stimulation techniques (ie micro fracture), autogulous chondrocyte implantation, osteochondral autograft transplantation and osteochondral allograft transplantation. These techniques however have limited clinical outcome data in the adolescent and children. These techniques would also be applied to defects that are larger than 5mm2 . Most of these operative treatments are performed as an arthroscopic outpatient procedure. Often patients need to undergo a period of non-weight bearing with either cast or brace immobilization to promote healing for approximately 1-2 months after surgery.
Options for Procedures
Options for procedures are determined by the size and location of the lesion and also several patient characteristics.
Various Techniques
Debridement of the lesion is an operative procedure which removes the dead (necrotic) to promote healing stimulation of the lesion and underlying bone. Drilling is also an arthroscopic procedure to promote stimulation of the underlying bone.
A fragment of the lesion is sometimes loose and either removal or repair such as fixation with a screw is necessary.
Osteochondral allograft or autograft which is performed on large lesions is a procedure which is either done with using another piece of bone to fill in the lesion. Fresh osteochondral allograft is a procedure which is done on very large lesions. This procedure requires the fresh graft to be obtained by a donor and once graft is obtained needs to be done on “urgent” basis; usually within 10 days while the graft is still “fresh”.
Discussion
Our understanding of Osteochondritis dissecans of the talus is continually evolving, but there is general acceptance that these lesions are similar to those found in other joints, including the knee. Therefore, the treatment algorithms are also similar. When initially assessing a child with evidence of this pathologic process, one should first consider the skeletal maturity. With that in consideration, embarking on a period of non-surgical management is ideal, but the results in the literature suggest that you should be prepared to proceed with surgical intervention if this treatment fails.
Surgical intervention itself is not always successful, but with the appropriate intra-operative algorithm and a conservative post-operative plan, many children can avoid a second surgery. As mentioned above, there are many back-up plans that can be undertaken given each child’s individual needs. With proper diligence most patients can be treated to full resolution of symptoms and radiographic appearance. It does behoove the treating physician to remain persistent in the treatment plan and for the child and parents to remain patient with the often slow healing process.
[box type=”note”]Roger M. Lyon, MD. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Medical College of Wisconsin[/box]
I have OCD in both ankles, it hurts,hurts, hurts,. The right ankle appears to be much better, but the left ankle has had two surgeries and it hurts so terribly bad. The doctor removed a big piece of bone that was loose and laying over the old surgical site. Is there hope to get it fixed? How many surgeries can the talus go through? I have had arthroscopic surgeries, thus far.
thank you for your useful discussion. i myself am a patient and will have my right ankle operated a week later. i hope to be healthy
I have had 4 surgeries for my right ankle OCD and now no other option but a total ankle replacement. 🙁 any advice
Same here, 14 yrs, 5 surgeries Inc microfracture, it just gets worse, (last op 3x worse!) I have now said ENOUGH! I am pushing for elective amputation as that seems the best way forward!
Hey Andy,
Your comment is the only legit result when searching for osteochondrosis and amputation. If you don’t mind I would like to ask if you really went that way and if you could share your experience. I am 20 yrs old now and in the same situation.
If you are willing to share your experience with me, feel free to drop me an email: val8999@yahoo.de
Thank you
Beverly, i also have OCD. no surgeries yet. only surgery so far was to repair the Tibia at my left ankle. only advice is if at all possible, (i do not know where you live) go to Rothman Institute in the Philadelphia Pa. area. They also have some offices in New Jersey. Rothman has several ankle doctors, however, i would recommend Dr. Pedowitz. Rothmans is number 1 in the US for joint replacement.
Ron, Thank you for your input. I have an appt. tomorrow with Dr. Pedowitz for my follow up after my CT Scan to talk surgery for my OCD and hardware removal from a trimalleolar fracture 6 years ago. You’ve helped relieve me of my apprehension and fears by mentioning my doctor by name. I’m traveling an hour and a half to see him and I feel it is worth it.
Sorry to hear about your situation. Since every situation is different it is best to have your doctor address these questions. If they are not able to provide the needed answers/recommendations then face to face consultation with one of the specialists at a ROCK site may be helpful.
Carol Yeater,
I am sorry to hear about the trouble with your ankle. Every situation is different and I don’t know enough about your case to give you an opinion. There is not a limit to the number of operations but any operation needs to fully address the core problem to get to a solution. Please address this with your surgeon because they know your situation best. If you need another opinion one of the the ROCK members could either see you or at least get you to someone that could give some good advice. Good Luck.
I had the surgery in Jan 2014 and its worse now than before surgery.
Dr. Lyon, I’m glad that I came across your blog on ankle OCD where you offered insights on this condition for kids. I’m trying to make a decision whether or not to have surgery done on my 15-year old son’s right ankle. My son had been playing soccer for many years and this summer he was diagnosed with ankle OCD. The findings from the MRI he did this summer says “A 1.2 x 0.9 x 0.6 cm osteochondral lesion is seen involving the medial talar dome with mild thinning of the underlying cartilage and slight adjacent bone marrow edema.” After more than 3 months of physical therapy we did see some improvements, but the pain didn’t completely gone. He can walk (with slight rolling of his right foot) but feels pain when sprinting. Should we consider surgery or continue the conservative treatment?
Hi Sandy , I have the exact same issue as your son – can you please email me ?
Charles,
There are lots of factors that determine the success rate of treatments for ankle (talus) OCD. As an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in treating OCD lesions in children, not all treatments are 100% successful. Many cases of ankle OCD are difficult to fully resolve and some will need more than one surgery. Discussions with your surgeon should help figure out how to proceed if your previous surgery was not successful. Otherwise consultation with a physician specializing in treating OCD lesions (such as a ROCK member) may be helpful.
Sandy,
I am sorry to hear about your son. This is not an uncommon situation. Surgery can be a reasonable approach in cases where nonoperative treatments have not resulted in healing of the lesion after 3-6 months. There are different surgical procedures used to achieve healing of OCD lesions. If the surgical treatment is well matched to the specifics of the lesion the success can be around 80 to 90%. An orthopedic surgeon specializing in this condition (such as a ROCK member) is your best bet in getting the best treatment. Good luck to you and your son.
I have been dealing with foot and ankle pain for the past my OCD of the talus was not discovered on x-ray,because of the constant pain I requested an MRI that when it was discovered. Cortisone shot,brace and boot did not work. Finally had surgery 3 months ago, as have now the pain is just unbearable so far two cortisone shot and physical therapy. My surgeon just repeated the MRI more building up of scar tissue noted on the MRI. I do not want to repeat surgery now. My question is how could I treat injury to avoid surgery, by the way I tried Accupuncture to see if it will help keep the swollen down. Any suggestions I am desperate now because I am on my feet all the time for work.
Thanks
Sincerely
Sheila Felix
Dr. Lyon,
My 12 y/o daughter was diagnosed with OCD of the talonavicular joint in December of 2014. The lesion on her talus is roughly 1 cm in size and she is experiencing significant pain when weightbearing. Her symptoms (pain, “catching” sensation in ankle) began in October 2014 but she continued to train in ballet until MRI images in December discovered the OCD lesion. We tried orthotics and activity restrictions for a few weeks but pain worsened. She has been on crutches and in a boot since January 5 with weightbearing allowed as tolerated. We had scheduled surgery for Feb. 25 but decided to cancel and try a period of non weightbearing for 6 weeks followed up by 3-6 weeks of progressive weightbearing to see if her bone could heal during this time. She will use an electrical bone stimulator during this time as well. X rays taken of her hands have shown she is not quite at skeletal maturity.
Do you feel there is potential for her lesion to resolve in this period of time?
Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. From what we have been told, this condition is rare in this particular joint and have been unable to find much information on treatment/outcomes.
Dear Shella Felix,
I am sorry you are suffering from your talus OCD lesion. Your surgeon would be the best person to address these issue and questions you bring up. if the lesion has not healed and is still painful it may need further surgery. There are several option for treatment of pain but unless the lesion has healed at least partially the pain will likely continue. Surgical options in your case may include lesion removal and/or tissue replacement. Good Luck with your situation.
Hope,
I am sorry to hear about your daughters talus OCD. Your surgeon should be the best one to answer the questions you have because they know the specifics of your case. I do not know enough of the details to give you specific recommendations. In general talus OCD is difficult to get healed with or without surgery. There is probably a small chance of healing with the current plan of bone stimulator and restricted weight bearing. Surgery is often needed to better assess the lesion and determine the goal of either lesion healing or removal. Then applying the surgical technique which will be most successful achieving the goal. I wish you and your daughter the best in dealing with this situation.
Hi doctor Roger Lyon
besides gg for operation, are there any other non operative method ?
By not gg for operation, will OCD lead to wear and tear evetually ?
As a child I had lots of ankle problems they tried to correct it with first a brace, then a boot, then a cast, and finally I had surgery around 12 years old, I remember being told that the surgery could fix it forever or it could come back as an adult and I may have to have the surgery again. About 4 years ago the pain started up again. Finally last year I went in to see the doctor. The practice still had me on record as a patient but no record of what I had done, my parents couldn’t remember what it was called either. So I went in clueless. They did xrays and an MRI and concluded my pain is from arthritis and the limited mobility is because I had a tarsal coalition as a child. But I am positive that is not correct (the arthritis I know is true but I know I didn’t have a flat foot). The surgery may have been 17 years ago but I remember a little and what I remember is that they went in there to replace or repair some cartilage between two bones that were rubbing together that shouldn’t have been and that’s what was causing my pain, my constant twisting my ankle, and falls because my ankle would go out on me. I intend to see another doctor, but until then possibly you can give me hope as the OCD sounds to be dead on. IF I could get that cartilage issue fixed surgically again would it bring back more mobility allowing me to walk correctly dispersing my weight more evenly on my joints and giving my now arthritic joint some rest and relief. My doctor wants to fuse my ankle but once he told me it could cause arthritis in other joints I really don’t want to do that, I’m only 29 I really don’t want arthritis all over my foot and ankle by 35 if I can avoid it.
I have had surgery for ocd of my R ankle. It was done arthroscopically with bone and marrow graft three years ago. Pain is back….achey and hurts to walk on. Will gel or cortisone injections help? I don’t want another surgery.
Debbie B
Deborah,
You’ll need to get a repeat evaluation. Any recommendations concerning new treatment needs to be based on what a new evaluation shows. Your surgeon should be in the best position to give you good advice on how to proceed. If you need another opinion seeking out one of the ROCK members for an evaluation is worth considering. Good Luck with this difficult situation.
I am suffering OCD, undiagnosed for three years and now being told immediate surgery. All my reading suggests at 42 yes old there is little hope of a pain free life. My wonder is is this condition covered under SSID because the recovery time alone is longer than my FMLA
Hello,
I’m a 20 year old collegiate track and field athlete and I was just diagnosed with OCD this past fall. I am a jumper and on my last year of track. However, I really love to jump and want to finish my last year as well as possible. That being said, I’m not really sure what I should be doing. I went to one doctor who immobilized my ankle and made me nwb for 3 weeks, and when I followed up with a podiatrist he said that was not helping and basically told me that it will never go away and that as long as I can handle jumping on it, I would be fine to do so. The pain is very minimal when I walk around, but is much much higher when I jump and is impacting my jumping significantly. My fear is that if I push through the season, could it potentially make my ankle more painful at normal activity for the rest of my life? Do you have any suggestions on how I can still finish my senior season? My last visit was not very helpful, but the doctor said he could do a cortisone injection if it got really bad. Would you suggest that? Thanks.
Kate did you ever get an answer and did you make it thru your senior season? My daughter is having the same issue
I have bilateral OCD of the ankle, my first visit with the surgeon is this week. I have 84 days of FMLA… should I file disability SSI…
I was diagnosed with OCD in both of my ankles, when I was 11 years old. It has been 21 years since my surgery and I have had no problems up until a year ago. For he past year, I have been places in several casts, on crutches, and had steroid injections. Unfortunately the pain has become unbearable and I am now facing surgery. Personally, I would like to go ahead and get both ankles replaced, but the doctor is saying that the longevity of the replacements are not known past 15 years. He is suggesting an allograft procedure instead. What is your opinion on replacement surgeries?
I had an old injury to my ankle that never really healed well and then in 2012 I twisted it rather severely. About 8 weeks later I was diagnosed with OCD. The surgeon told me that it had developed from a bone cyst from an old injury because my lesion was 8mm x 11mm. I asked for a referral to Penn State Hershey Medical (takes 3 months to get in)
and the surgeon there told me that I would have the best outcome from a Mosaicplasty and partial Brostrom since my ankle was also unstable. I got a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon closer home and he didn’t think that was necessary and suggested an arthroscopy and debridement. While the recovery time with an arthroscopy was much shorter I did see in my research that the larger lesions responded better to mosaicplasty so I opted for that procedure.
I am very grateful I opted for that because I think my outcome has been better, but initially I had a great deal more pain. When they tell you that you will need 18 months of recovery, think “1 and a half years” and comprehend that!!!! It would have saved me a lot of frustration and worry!
It is now 4 yrs from my injury and while I cannot say I am totally pain free, it is tolerable. I do not do sports and I have a job where I am not on my feet all day so that is a plus. But it is a hard journey through the healing process!! Hang in there if you are in it!
Dear Roger Lyon
i am facing Osteo-chonodral lesion of Talus OLT in my ancle since 2 years.Sometimes i get pains after more exercion or standing.Thinning of articular cartilage seen wt erosions in latest MRI. Presentely i m bearing t pain without painkiller.Doctor r recommending for Arthroscopy. I dont want to go for surgical treatment.My doubt is shall i try Acupuncture,Homeopathy,Reki etc and go on trying non surgical ways or straight way go for surgery?–S Malu
Hello,
I read al of your stories and I am so sorry about all what happened to you because I know how the pain feels. I have the pain in my left ankle since April 2015. The pain started with stabbing while I was working. I had my X-Rays and the doctor said that there is nothing on my foot. They had me to go back to work. Few months later, The pain was horrible while I felt pain in my whole foot and my leg, as well in my two big toes are beeing numb. I had to see the doctor again and I got my MRI done in October 2015. I was diagnosed with OCD. I had a meeting with The surgeon few weeks ago, and he said that I am only in stage 1. He also said that if I still have pain, it’s better to do Ankle arthroscopy. Well, the pain right now is not that bad as it used to be in October 2015 through April 2016. Maybe because of the weather!! Curruently I am not taking any medicine. I am having pain if I am setting more that if I am walking and when I am standing which I dont know why. Some days are mine, some days I feel too much pain. Can you suggest any thing that can help my situation? I am 28 years old. Do you think sugry is a good idea?
I used simple language because I am an English learner.
Thank you
Hello,
I read al of your stories and I am so sorry about all what happened to you because I know how the pain feels. I have the pain in my left ankle since April 2015. The pain started with stabbing while I was working. I had my X-Rays and the doctor said that there is nothing on my foot. They had me to go back to work. Few months later, The pain was horrible while I felt pain in my whole foot and my leg, as well in my two big toes are beeing numb. I had to see the doctor again and I got my MRI done in October 2015. I was diagnosed with OCD. I had a meeting with The surgeon few weeks ago, and he said that I am only in stage 1. He also said that if I still have pain, it’s better to do Ankle arthroscopy. Well, the pain right now is not that bad as it used to be in October 2015 through April 2016. Maybe because of the weather!! Curruently I am not taking any medicine. I am having pain if I am setting more that if I am walking and when I am standing which I dont know why. Some days are mine, some days I feel too much pain. Can you suggest any thing that can help my situation? I am 28 years old. Do you think sugry is a good idea?
I used simple language because I am an English learner.
Thank you
Workers comp doc said I have ocd in January 2016 they put me in a cast 6 days
I have a boot but I refuse to work cause they won’t leave me alone on lite duty which to them is running all over the store and run a cash register. I got another doc on my own last week he said Surgery
It took workers comp from April till yesterday July 20 to get me a specialist. He injected it I felt the stab stab and then it was like two bags he went through the pain was horrible and I have had 5 kids pain meds free. I an blue on the foot it’s swollen worse and the antiflamator meds meloxicam is a dangerous med I won’t take.
The workers comp doctor was more involved in if I liked my job and if I was fired.
Guttentag is a real jerk. He sent me back to work full duty and physical therapy 4 days a week 4 weeks total and lift 15 lbs with foot every day
Is this jerk for real?
I had a scope surgery on my right foot. But now my left foot is hurting the same pain is it possible to have the same injury on both feet?
I have been dealing with this for close to 7 months
Dr Lyon,
I had micro fx done Jan of 2014 then allografting June of this year. I am 51 years old, I did the 2 months with no wt bearing then minimal. My concern now it that the “catching” and pain is back and my ankle seems to give out more. Is it possible to try grafting again?
Hello,
I was diagnosed with OCD in my right ankle in 2010. I was given 3 steroid injections later Underwent Microfracture surgery which didnot help me. I was in pain for almost 4 years. During this period I tried Physiotherapy but the pain never receded. In 2014 October I underwent DeNovo graft surgery. cartilage was implanted in damaged area. This failed.
Since the lesion is 7 x 4.5 x 11 mm. Doctor is suggesting me Osteoarticular transfer system surgery.
Can anyone share their experiences on this surgery.
-Vicky
I’m sorry if you’ve already mentioned this, but where can I find ROCK doctors that you speak of. Thank you!
How many months does it take to see healing on an MRI generally? My 10 year old daughter has been NWB and in a boot for 3 months, then 4 months no impact and the recent MRI is almost identical to the one 7 months ago (no better, no worse, stable lesion)