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What Causes Osteochondritis Dissecans?
Question: I was diagnosed with familial osteochondritis dissecans. I read that cartilage is weaker than normal in people with this disease. However I am not sure if they were referring to all types of cartilage or if it was only cartilage in the growth plates. I do martial arts and I'm a firefighter as well. I want to know if this disease could become progressively worse through age and if it could force me to give up these activities in the future?
Brief Answer:
Injury occurs more often in growing bones
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to the HCM
Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint condition in which bone underneath the cartilage of a joint dies due to lack of blood flow. This bone and cartilage can then break loose, causing pain and possibly hinder joint motion.
It occurs more often in growing bones and improves in adulthood in most cases. Familial forms affect multiple joints as in your case. But don't worry. Hopefully it will improve now.
I would recommend you to take following measures to avoid future episodes:
- Learning the proper mechanics and techniques of martial arts, using the proper protective gear, and participating in strength training and stability training exercises can help reduce the chance of injury. A physiotherapist can help you in this regard.
- Try to identify early signs of joint involvement. Resting and avoiding exercise in early stages can help you in non surgical healing.
I don't think that you need to give up martial arts or your profession as fire fighter completely. But always be careful.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Injury occurs more often in growing bones
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to the HCM
Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint condition in which bone underneath the cartilage of a joint dies due to lack of blood flow. This bone and cartilage can then break loose, causing pain and possibly hinder joint motion.
It occurs more often in growing bones and improves in adulthood in most cases. Familial forms affect multiple joints as in your case. But don't worry. Hopefully it will improve now.
I would recommend you to take following measures to avoid future episodes:
- Learning the proper mechanics and techniques of martial arts, using the proper protective gear, and participating in strength training and stability training exercises can help reduce the chance of injury. A physiotherapist can help you in this regard.
- Try to identify early signs of joint involvement. Resting and avoiding exercise in early stages can help you in non surgical healing.
I don't think that you need to give up martial arts or your profession as fire fighter completely. But always be careful.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I did read that a complication of familial osteochondritis dissecans is early onset osteoarthritis. Is adult articular cartilage and fibrocartilage affected by the mutation in the g3 complex of aggrecan or does it only affect cartilage in the growth plates? What I'm trying to figure out if the articular cartilage is more susceptible to wear and tear because it is weaker?
Brief Answer:
Early onset osteoarthritis is a known complication of this disease
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Yes, early onset osteoarthritis can occur as a complication of Familial osteochondritis dessicans ( FOD). All major joints involved in limb movements are synovial joints. They have synovial cavity separating bones involved to allow frictionless movement. In FOD or any injury which disrupts this cavity like trauma, can at times activates our immune system leading to inflammation of joint which is known as osteoarthritis. Don't worry, it doesn't happen in every case and there are many treatments to treat arthritis if it occurs.
Adult joints can sometimes get affected by FOD. The role of G3 complex mutation is well associated with skeletal dysphasias but its role in FOD is not completely clear.
Articular cartilage which are more involved in daily shear stress are most likely to get involved. The stress leads to separation of bone cartilage unit leading to all the symptoms.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Early onset osteoarthritis is a known complication of this disease
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Yes, early onset osteoarthritis can occur as a complication of Familial osteochondritis dessicans ( FOD). All major joints involved in limb movements are synovial joints. They have synovial cavity separating bones involved to allow frictionless movement. In FOD or any injury which disrupts this cavity like trauma, can at times activates our immune system leading to inflammation of joint which is known as osteoarthritis. Don't worry, it doesn't happen in every case and there are many treatments to treat arthritis if it occurs.
Adult joints can sometimes get affected by FOD. The role of G3 complex mutation is well associated with skeletal dysphasias but its role in FOD is not completely clear.
Articular cartilage which are more involved in daily shear stress are most likely to get involved. The stress leads to separation of bone cartilage unit leading to all the symptoms.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So the joints that had osteochondral cysts are the ones that would be affected by osteoarthritis? I had another question about one of the surgeries that I had. I had a microfracture surgery 9 years ago and I am starting to get pain with certain movements and quite a bit of crepitus. Does that mean the fibrocartilage is wearing out? How long does microfracture typically last? I've been told different things. Some say the failure rate is high and tkr will eventually be needed. I was told mine should still be good even with mild pain but I'm not so sure.
Brief Answer:
Yes, the joints affected more likely to have arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Yes, the joints which have been affected by osteochondritis are more likely to get involved in arthritis process later. In case you are feeling pain and crepitus in the operated joint, then I would recommend you to visit your orthopaedic surgeon for proper examination and evaluation. Every individual case differs usually in the duration of disease and recovery. Also, the type and severity of joint involvement along with the type of repair differs for every case. The best opinion can be sought from your operating orthopaedic surgeon.
So, I would recommend you to visit your surgeon and get a definite idea about the present condition of your joints.
Take care
Yes, the joints affected more likely to have arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Yes, the joints which have been affected by osteochondritis are more likely to get involved in arthritis process later. In case you are feeling pain and crepitus in the operated joint, then I would recommend you to visit your orthopaedic surgeon for proper examination and evaluation. Every individual case differs usually in the duration of disease and recovery. Also, the type and severity of joint involvement along with the type of repair differs for every case. The best opinion can be sought from your operating orthopaedic surgeon.
So, I would recommend you to visit your surgeon and get a definite idea about the present condition of your joints.
Take care
Note: For detailed guidance on genetic screening consult a genetics specialist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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