# Osteochondritis dissecans - Category: chronic - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class LD77.02 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Osteochondritis Dissecans - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526091/ - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care ## Treatment metadata - No drug therapy in primary care (Referral & Advice) ## Complete treatment card ```text OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class LD77.02 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Osteochondritis Dissecans - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526091/ Review status: REVIEWED against the source listed above (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (4) - Some cases are found incidentally on imaging in a patient with no complaints - Others recall a remote, mild joint ache that settled on its own without treatment [joint pain] - Most present months to a year after mild joint pain begins, with or without a specific injury [joint pain] - A loose fragment causes more severe pain along with locking, swelling, and a sense the joint is unstable [locking] SIGNS - what you find (1) - Tenderness to palpation, painful or reduced range of motion, and swelling or effusion are found on exam [reduced range of movement] TESTS (6) - Plain x-rays are the first imaging step and show an oval lucent area in the bone under the joint surface with surrounding dense bone - X-rays cannot show whether the fragment is stable and tend to underestimate how big the lesion really is - MRI confirms the diagnosis and is highly accurate for judging whether the fragment is stable - A fluid-intensity rim of at least 5 mm at the fragment-bone interface on MRI suggests the lesion is unstable - A cartilage defect of 5 mm or more overlying the lesion also points to instability on MRI - CT arthrography is a fallback when MRI cannot be done, though it is less sensitive IF NOT THIS - what else fits (2) - Osteoarthritis is on the differential for this joint pain - A meniscus tear is on the differential for this joint pain Source StatPearls "Osteochondritis Dissecans" - disease-level clinical article Status traced to the source above 1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (REFERRAL & ADVICE) [1st line] Adult A focal area of bone and overlying cartilage that loses its blood supply and can separate to form a loose body, typically in the knee, ankle, or elbow of young athletes; needs orthopedic referral for imaging and possible surgical management, with the GP providing interim analgesia. - Refer, with advice Peds Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is implied. Source No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care Why A focal area of bone and overlying cartilage that loses its blood supply and can separate to form a loose body, typically in the knee, ankle, or elbow of young athletes; needs orthopedic referral for imaging and possible surgical management, with the GP providing interim analgesia. Caution Joint locking, catching, or a palpable loose body, and any significant effusion — these support prompt referral. No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to. Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)