osteochondritis

views updated

osteochondritis (osti-oh-kon-dry-tis) n. any one of a group of conditions affecting areas of growth at the epiphyses and apophyses of bones before skeletal maturity, usually during early adolescence. It is characterized as crushing (see Kienböck's disease, Köhler's disease, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease), pulling (see Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever's disease), or splitting (e.g. osteochondritis dissecans). o. dissecans the development of a small area of avascular bone on the surface of a joint, most commonly the knee, with resulting pain, swelling, and limitation of movement. The area and its overlying cartilage can become loose and may detach.