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What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?

What are the symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease?

How can doctors tell if my child has Osgood-Schlatter disease?

How do doctors treat Osgood-Schlatter disease?

Bone Disorders in Children

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Scoliosis

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Osgood-Schlatter Disease

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Oct 2019| Content last modified Oct 2019

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Osgood-Schlatter disease is painful inflammation of the bone and cartilage at the top of a child's lower leg (shinbone).

Osgood-Schlatter usually happens to children 10 to 15 years old who are active in sports
It's caused by overuse of the leg
Your child will have pain, swelling, and tenderness in one knee
Doctors treat Osgood-Schlatter disease with pain medicine and rest

Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter include:

Pain, swelling, and tenderness at the front of the knee, just below the kneecap
Pain that gets worse with activity and better with rest

Symptoms are usually in just one knee.

Doctors can tell if your child has Osgood-Schlatter by asking about your child's symptoms and doing a physical exam. Sometimes, doctors do x-rays.

Doctors will have your child:

Rest and avoid deep knee bends
Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen
Do stretching exercises
Apply ice to the knee

Usually children can continue to play sports while healing. Symptoms typically go away after several weeks or months.

If the disease is severe, doctors may:

Put a cast on the leg
Give corticosteroid shots
Do surgery

Generic Name	Select Brand Names
ibuprofen	ADVIL, MOTRIN IB

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