[Clinical examination, imaging and therapy of Osgood-Schlatter's disease].

BACKGROUND: Osgood-Schlatter's disease represents an often seen painful knee illness of temporary duration in adolescent sportsmen, caused by severe stress to the tibial apophysis.

RESULTS: A study in 29 consecutive patients (∅ 12,7 yrs, 77 % male, 67 % non-dominant side affected, 4 patients both knee joints affected, always pain after performance, high sports activity in football, basketball, gymnastics/ballett, 41 % shortening of m. rectus fem.) shows that pure clinical diagnosis is sufficient.

DISCUSSION: Imaging is only necessary in case of suspected concurrent origin, as it does not yield unique results and does not support therapy nor prognosis. Patients reduce their performance on their own. Late pain occurs at the apophyseal protuberance due to local compression. Restrictive recommendations to patients to leave their sport activity are not justified.