Musculoskeletal Imaging

Osteochondrosis

any of a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the common features of predilection for the immature skeleton; involvement of an epiphysis, apophysis or epiphysioid bone; and a radiographic picture that is dominated by fragmentation, collapse, sclerosis, and, frequently, reossification with reconstitution of the bone contour. Three major categories can be defined:

disorders characterized by primary or secondary osteonecrosis;

conditions related to trauma or abnormal stress, without evidence of osteonecrosis; and

alterations representing variations in normal patterns of ossification.

Table 1 lists some of the more common osteochondroses; however, numerous other forms exist. These disorders are described more fully under their specific names.

Osteochondrosis, Table 1. Site and mechanism of different osteochondroses.

Disorders characterized by primary or secondary osteonecrosis

Disorder	Site	Probable mechanism

Legg Calv Perthes disease	Femoral head	Osteonecrosis, perhaps due to trauma
Freibergs infraction	Metatarsal head	Osteonecrosis due to trauma
Kienbocks disease	Carpal lunate	Osteonecrosis due to trauma
Kohlers disease	Tarsal navicular	Osteonecrosis or altered sequence of ossification
Panners disease	Capitulum of humerus	Osteonecrosis due to trauma
Thiemanns disease	Phalanges of hand	Osteonecrosis, perhaps due to trauma

Disorders related to trauma or abnormal stress without evidence of osteonecrosis

Disorder	Site	Probable mechanism
Osgood Schlatter disease	Tibial tuberosity	Trauma
Blounts disease	Proximal tibial tuberosity	Trauma
Scheuermanns disease	Discovertebral junction	Trauma
Sinding Larsen Johansson disease	Patella	Trauma

Diseases due to variations in ossification

Disorder	Site	Probable mechanism
Severs phenomenon	Calcaneus	Normal variation in ossification
van Necks phenomenon	Ischiopubic synchondrosis	Normal variation in ossification

Nearly all of the osteochondroses, which generally become manifest in the first decade of life, are more frequent in boys than in girls.

Intervertebral (osteo)chondrosis is a degenerative condition of cartilaginous joints of the spine (discovertebral junction), characterized by distinctive radiographic manifestations of vacuum phenomena, disc space narrowing, and reactive sclerosis of superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body. This condition results from ageing, dehydration and loss of tissue resiliency in the (osteo)chondrosis.

Yes
		(85.3%)
No
		(9.7%)
Undecided
		(5.0%)