Osgood-Schlatter's disease

Osgood-Schlatter's disease is a condition that affects the knee in children and adolescents who are or were growing. The condition is an irritation of the bone in the area where the patellar tendon inserts, at the top of the shinbone, below the kneecap.

Osgood-Schlatter's disease is more often observed in boys than girls, typically between the ages of 8 and 15 years.

Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter's disease can include:

• Pain and swelling below the knee
• Tenderness or sensitivity upon touching the affected area
• Stiffness at the knee
• A bony lump or bump at the affected area

It is thought to be caused when the muscles and tendons pull on the bone during a child’s growth. As the bones are softer and more adaptive, the muscle tension causes the bondy landmark to be pulled into a more abnormal shape, which is why a lump or bump can form. This may be accelerated by excessive exercise that loads the patellar tendon and the front of the knee joint.
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Sever’s disease

Sever's disease is very similar to Osgood’s Schlatter Disease, however instead of the knee,  it is the growth plate in the heel bone (calcaneus) that becomes inflamed, which causes pain.

Sever's disease is most often observed in children aged 8-14, which are the years when the heel’s growth plate is still developing.

The symptoms of Sever's disease include:

• Pain and tenderness in and around the heel
• A bony lump at the heal
• Stiffness around the ankle
• Pain when walking or running

Treatment for Sever's disease typically involves rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and inflammation. Physical therapy may also be recommended to stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the heel. In most cases, the condition will resolve on its own with time and appropriate treatment, and children can return to their usual activities once the pain has subsided.

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Treatment for Sever’s & Osgood-Schlatter's Disease

Given time, these conditions typically improve, once the child's bones have stopped growing and the patellar tendon and achilles tendon has reached maturity. The majority of treatment is non-operative, however in some cases, surgical intervention is required.

For Osgood’s Schlatter, surgery usually involves removing the bony-growths that may have developed at the patellar tendon’s insertion.

For Sever's disease, typically the plantar fascia or Achilles tendon is released, or bony spurs are removed from the heel if they are causing discomfort.

Recovery time following surgery for these conditions will vary depending on the specifics of the procedure performed. It is important for you to discuss this with your surgeon and rehabilitation team, to gain a better understanding of what you can and cannot do in the weeks and months after surgery.

Generally, it takes several months for the foot or knee to heal from these procedures, and rehabilitation will be required before returning to normal sporting activities.

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