Osteochondritis Dissecans — (OCD) — Non-Operative Management (Knee)

UW Health Sports Medicine · UW Health Sports Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Physician Group

Weight-Bearing

Activity restriction; brace or crutches as needed; goal is protected loading to restore blood flow and allow bone healing

Key Restrictions

Avoid running, jumping, high-impact activities; bracing or crutches PRN; activity restriction duration 6 months to 1 year; imaging follow-up (X-ray/MRI) to confirm healing; surgery indicated if non-op fails, lesion unstable, or growth plates closed

Timeline & Phases

Non-operative track: activity modification and protected loading -> progressive return to impact guided by imaging and symptom resolution; no formal phase structure for non-operative management

Notes

Most common in ages 10-15; more common in boys; juvenile OCD (open growth plates) has better healing prognosis; non-op management can achieve complete healing; surgical option if OCD does not heal or lesion is unstable; document also contains embedded surgical phase protocol; UW Health Sports Medicine, Madison WI

Surgeon / Author

UW Health Sports Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Physician Group