Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition where a small section of bone just below the joint cartilage surface loses its blood supply and eventually dies. The cartilage overlying this area of dead bone can fragment and eventually break off into the joint. The condition occurs as a result of repetitive trauma (impact) to the bone, which eventually disrupts the blood supply to a portion of the bone. The overlying cartilage softens, progressively fragments, partially detaches, and eventually separates from the surrounding cartilage. The ...