osteochondrosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
This word is usually used to imply an ischaemic condition of an articular surface or epiphysis. This is not an inflammatory condition.
This condition is characterized by patchy avascular necrosis with reactive sclerosis and is probably due to repetitive stress which damages the bone.
If there is not rapid healing then there may be fragmentation and collapse of the affected segment.
Three varieties of osteochondritis are recognised:
- crushing osteochondritis
- splitting osteochondritis / osteochondritis dissecans
- pulling osteochondritis