OSTEOCHONDROSES

Chapter 71

MARIA THERESA M. NAVARRO, MD.Department of Medical ImagingQuirino Memorial Medical Center

OSTEOCHONDROSISGENERAL CHARACTERISTICS rapidly ossifying central nucleus of bone within the

cartilage enlage of the epiphysis is vulnerable to mechanical pressures superimposed on hormonal and nutritional changes, explaining the appearance of certain conditions during the “midgrowth” spurt of childhood

become apparent in the 1st decade of life (when the developing bone still contains a cartilaginous model)

boys > girls predominantly single and unilateral trauma (usually an initiating event or common

pathway)

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES DISEASE

children ages 4 – 8 years old boy > girls bilateral involvement (10% of cases) (+) family history (6% of cases) Clinical signs: limping, pain, and limitation

of joint motion in few days or weeks (+) history of trauma (25% of cases)

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES DISEASE Radiographic abnormalities:1. soft tissue swelling on the lateral side of the

joint2. smallness of the femoral ossification

nucleus3. lateral displacement of the femoral

ossification nucleus4. fissuring and fracture of the femoral ossific

nucleus (radiographs on frog-leg position)5. flattening and sclerosis of the femoral ossific

nucleus6. intraepiphyseal gas

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES- DISEASE

soft tissue distortion (arrowheads), sclerotic femoral ossification center that is laterally displaced and contains radiolucent fissures, and metaphyseal irregularity.

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES DISEASE

Radiographic abnormalities:

further compression, disintegration, fragmentation, and sclerosis of the epiphysis, together with metaphyseal changes, can be seen

1. metaphyseal “cysts” – characteristic

2. widening and shortening of the femoral neck

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES DISEASE: METAPHYSEAL ABNORMALITIES

A. Metaphyseal “cysts”. Observe the large cystic lesion of the medial metaphysis of the femur (arrow), which is associated with a fragmented, sclerotic, and laterally placed ossific nucleus.

B. In another child, note the broad and short femoral neck containing multiple radiolucent lesions. Most of the epiphyseal ossification center is destroyed.

I II III IV

Site of epiphyseal involvement

anterior part

anterior part

almost whole epiphysis

whole epiphysis

Sequestrum No Yes Yes Yes

Crescent sign No anterior

anterior and extends posteriorly

anterior and posteriorly

Collapse No Yes Yes Yes

Metaphyseal abnormalities

No Localized Diffuse Diffuse

GRADES OF FEMORAL INVOLVEMENT IN LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES DISEASE (CATTERALL CLASSIFICATION)

FREIBERG’S INFRACTION

involvement of the head of the 2nd metatarsal unilateral predominant in women 13 – 18 years of age clinical features: local pain, tenderness, and

swelling and limitation of motion of the corresponding metatarsophalangeal joint

FREIBERG’S INFRACTION

Radiographic Abnormalities subtle flattening, increased radiodensity, and

cystic lucent lesions of the metatarsal head

FRIEBERG’S INFRACTION : EARLY RADIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES

A. Initial radiograph reveals minimal increased radiodensity of the head of the 3rd metatarsal bone (arrow)

B. Two weeks later, the depression of the articular surface of the metatarsal head and the sclerosis are more apparent (arrow)

FRIEBERG’S INFRACTION: LATER RADIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES

Note the flattened metatarsal head with two osteochondral fragments (arrowheads), osteophytosis, joint space narrowing, widening of the phalangeal base

FRIEBERG’S INFRACTION: RESIDUAL DEFORMITIES Residual flattening of the 2nd metatarsal head, narrowing of the

adjacent joint space, intraarticular osseous bodies, expansion of the phalangeal base, widening of the 2nd metatarsal with cortical thickening

KIENBOCK’S DISEASE

Kienbock’s disease of the carpal lunate is most commonly observed in patients between the ages of 20 and 40 years

cause of condition is not clear certain anatomic features may predispose the lunate

to injury and subsequent osteonecrosis: vulnerable blood supply fixed position in the wrist, resulting in forces that may

be greater than those on neighboring carpal bones

KIENBOCK’S DISEASE

A. Magnification radiograph demonstrates patchy increased density of the lunate without alterations in the shape of the bone

B. Collapse of a sclerotic lunate bone

KOHLER’S DISEASE Kohler’s disease of the tarsal navicular is relatively

rare more frequent in boys, ages 3 and 7 years unilateral (75% to 80%) criteria in the diagnosis:

changes are detected in a previously normal navicular bone;

alterations consisting of resorption and reossification must be compatible with those of osteonecrosis

KOHLER’S DISEASEA. Lateral radiograph reveals the small fragmented and slightly

dense tarsal navicular bone. The interosseous spaces of the tarsus are not disturbed.

B. Wafer-like radiodense tarsal navicular bone is identified in a different child. Again, the neigboring joint spaces are not diminished in width

PANNER’S DISEASE

Osteochondrosis of the capitulum of the humerus rare disease that usually appears between the

ages 5 and 10 years boys are affected almost exclusively linked to history of trauma “little-leaguer’s elbow” because of its frequency in

young baseball pitchers

PANNER’S DISEASE Findings include fissuring and fragmentation of the

capitulum (arrow) and deformity of the adjacent radial head in this child with elbow pain and swelling

THIEMANN’S DISEASE

principal clinical manifestations of Thiemann’s disease are an onset in the second decade in life

a predilection for boys painless swelling of proximal interphalangeal joints

of the fingers digital shortening, and deformity

THIEMANN’S DISEASE Radiograph shows physeal closure and shortened

middle phalanges in the 2nd and 5th finger. The opposite side was similarly affected.

OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE disease of the tibial tuberosity adolescents, ages 11- 15 years boy> girls generally unilateral, bilateral (25%) clinically : local pain and tenderness, soft tissue

swelling, and firm masses on palpation radiographic abnormalities: soft tissue swelling due to edema of skin and soft

tissue margins of patellar tendon are indistinct ossific collection in the avulsed fragment

OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE. SOFT TISSUE ABNORMALITIES Low KV radiography indicates soft tissue edema over the

tibial tuberosity (solid arrow). Note indistinctness of the infrapatellar tendon (arrowheads) and osseous irregularity of the tuberosity (open arrow)

OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE : OSSEOUS ABNORMALITIES

Observe soft tissue swelling (arrowhead) and an avulsed osseous fragment of the tibial tuberosity (arrow)

BLOUNT’S DISEASE Blount’s disease, tibia vara, or osteochondrosis

deformans tibiae is a local disturbance of growth of the medial aspect of the proximal tibial epiphysis

Two Types: Infantile Type – 1st few years of life

5-8 X more frequent physiologic bowing persists and worsens radiographic abnormalities : simulate those of

physiologic bowing but are more severealtered alignment occurs in the proximal

portion of the tibia, not between the femur and tibia, as seen in physiologic bowing

BLOUNT’S DISEASE

Infantile Type – 1st few years of lifetibia is in varus position owing to angulation

of the metaphysistibial shaft is adducted without intrinsic

curvaturedepressed medial tibial metaphysis with an

osseous excrescence or spur

I (2 to 3 years) progressive increase in the degree of varus deformity of the tibia is associated with irregularity of the entire growth plate.

Medial part of the metaphysis protrudes with a medial and distal beak

II (2 ½ to 4 years) lateromedial depression of the ossification line of the medial portion of the metaphysis and a wedge-shaped medial end of the epiphysis are observed.

Complete healing of the lesion is possible at this stage

III (4 to 6 years) The cartilage-filled depression in the metaphyseal beak deepens.

The medial part of the bone epiphysis remains wedge-shaped and is less distinct.

Small calcific foci may be evident beneath the medial border

IV (5 to 10 years). With increasing bone maturation, the cartilaginous growth plate is reduced to a narrow plate, and the bone epiphysis occupies an increasing part of the end of the bone.

The medial margin of the epiphysis shows definite irregularity

V (9 to 11 years) The bone epiphysis and the corresponding articular surface are greatly deformed.

The epiphysis is separated in two portions by a clear band, extending medially from the lateral portion of the growth plate to the articular cartilage.

VI (10 to 13 years) The branches of the medially located double growth plate ossify, whereas growth continues in the normal lateral part.

Stages V and VI represent phases of irreparable structural damage

BLOUNT’S DISEASE: INFANTILE TIBIA VARA

A. Stage II, at age 4 years

B. Stage IV, at 8 ½ years

BLOUNT’S DISEASE Adolescent Type – children between ages 8 – 15

years cause is not clear, though arrest of epiphyseal

growth is suspected history of trauma or infection are elicited

occasionally radiographically :

unilateral (90%)leg shortening, mild to moderate varus

deformity (10 -20 degrees)proximal tibial epiphysis reveals medial wedgingmedial tibial growth plate is diminished in height

INFANTILE VERSUS ADOLESCENT TIBIA VARA

INFANTILE ADOLESCENT

Age of Onset 1-3 years 8-15 years

Distribution Bilateral : 50-75% Unilateral : 90%

Clinical Findings:

Obesity, absent pain, tenderness,

prominent derformity, slight leg shortening

Normal body weight, pain and tenderness,

mild deformity, moderate, severe leg

shortening

Etiology or Pathogenesis

Trauma, growth arrest or dysplasia

Trauma

Growth arrest

SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE disorder of the spine, leading to lower thoracic

kyphosis cartilaginous node formation is fundamental to the

disease process has been suggested that congenital weakness of the

endplates predisposes certain persons to intraosseous discal prolapse during periods of excessive physical stress

combination of kyphosis, cartilaginous nodes, and irregular vertebral outlines (pathognomonic)

SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE clinical abnormalities: high variable asymptomatic; others fatigue, defective posture,

aching pain aggravated by physical exertion, and tenderness to palpation

kyphotic deformity, which may be associated with mild scoliosis, predominates in the thoracic region (75% of patients)

SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASE The underlying abnormality relates to intraosseous displacement of

disc material (cartilaginous nodes) through the cartilaginous endplates (arrowheads).

This produces radiolucent lesions of the vertebral bodies with surrounding sclerosis;

intervertebral disc space narrowing; irregularity of vertebral contour

SCHEUERMANN’S DISEASEA. Thoracic spine. Findings include irregularity of vertebral contour, reactive

sclerosis, intervertebral disc space narrowing, anterior vertebral wedging, and kyphosis

B. Lumbar spine. Observe the cartilaginous nodes (arrowheads) creating surface irregularity, lucent areas, and reactive sclerosis. An anterior discal displacement (arrow) has produced an irregular anterosuperior corner of a vertebral body, the limbus vertebra.

SINDING-LARSEN-JOHANSSON DISEASE most common in 10-14 years of age tenderness and soft tissue swelling over the lower

pole of the patella associated with fragmentation of the inferior portion

of the patella with spastic paralysis (which is consistent with traction phenomenon)

“jumper’s knee” radiographically: small bone fragments adjacent to

the distal surface of the patella with overlying soft tissue swelling

natural duration of the disease – approx. 3 to 12 mos

SINDING-LARSEN-JOHANSSON DISEASE In this patient with spastic paralysis, observe

fragmentation of the lower pole of the patella (arrow) related to abnormal stress

SEVER’S DISEASE disorder due to variation in ossification irregularity of the secondary calcaneal ossification fragmentation and sclerosis of the secondary

ossification center of the calcaneus normal consequence of proper weight-bearing

SEVER’S DISEASE An example of sclerosis of the secondary calcaneal

ossification center Normal consequence of weight-bearing