A Review of Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Knee and Elbow

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a condition or injury that causes a separation on the subchondral bone and articular cartilage. I,2 The reported incidence of OCD is 30- 60 cases per 100,000 people.3 It is primarily found in the knee and elbow joints. 1,2,3 The male to female ratio has been reported as two to one in the knee joint and three to one in the elbow joint, with thirty three per cent having bilateral involvement in one occurrence. I ,4,5,6 Since OCD has a high incidence rate in men and women, the purpose of this study is to compare and contrast OCD in the knee versus in the elbow. This review of the literature will also explain why OCD can occur in both a weight-bearing and a nonweight- bearing joint with the same possible etiologies. This review of the literature will also explain the conditions, classifications, clinical features, and management and treatment of OCD in the knee and in the elbow. It was concluded that OCD has no significant evidence or relationship of occurrence in a weight-bearing versus a nonweight- bearing joint