Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Adult Knee

Osteochondritis dissecans is a disease that originates in the subchondral bone that affects the articular cartilage. It generally presents gradually and is associated with non-specific symptoms. The true etiology is unknown but likely related to genetic, vascular or trauma. Multiple modes for diagnosis and classification exist. Conservative management often fails in adults unless the lesion is stable. Different surgical techniques have shown improvement over baseline, but there are no randomized controlled trials that demonstrate superiority of one technique over another.