Overview of Osteochondroses

By Frank Pessler, MD, PhD, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany

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Bone Disorders in Children
Congenital Hypophosphatasia
Idiopathic Scoliosis
Overview of Osteochondroses
Köhler Bone Disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Scheuermann Disease
Overview of Osteopetroses
Craniotubular Dysplasias
Craniotubular Hyperostoses
Osteosclerosis
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)

Osteochondroses are noninflammatory, noninfectious derangements of bony growth at various ossification centers. These derangements occur during the period of greatest developmental activity and affect the epiphyses.

Etiology of osteochondroses is typically unknown; some of the disorders have a familial component, but inheritance is complex. Osteochondroses differ in their anatomic distribution, course, and prognosis; they typically cause pain and have important orthopedic implications. Common examples include

Rare osteochondroses and the involved bones include Freiberg disease (head of 2nd metatarsal), Panner disease (capitulum), and Blount disease (proximal tibia). Sever disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is a more common osteochondrosis.

Last full review/revision February 2017 by Frank Pessler, MD, PhD