Case Summary
A 13-year-old male soccer player presents with 3 months of mild, recurrent bilateral anterior knee pain, worse with resisted extension, and tenderness at the tibial tubercles. No fever, swelling, erythema, or gait issues. Past medical, surgical, family, and developmental history are unremarkable. Immunizations are up to date; no medications or allergies. Vitals are normal. The exam shows localized tibial tubercle tenderness; otherwise unremarkable.
Most Likely Diagnosis for the Patient
One potential diagnosis of the patient’s condition may be Osgood-Schlatter disease. This can be said based on the fact that it often manifests itself in adolescents in the form of knee pain due to inflammation of the patellar tendon. This disease is often found in physically active men because the tendon is irritated in a place attached to the tubercle of the tibia (Corbi et al., 2022). This condition can also be observed during active growth, which is suitable for the patient’s age.
Pathogenesis of the Disorder
The pathogenesis of the disorder includes tension that appears with regular repetitive stress. This, in turn, causes tension and microtrauma that leads to inflammation. The bones of adolescents proliferate, which creates an increased load on the muscles and tendons, which, with additional activity, may not withstand the stress. The quadriceps muscle stretches the injured tendon, which can create injury at the point of attachment (Corbi et al., 2022). In some cases, this condition can lead to swelling and pain that will require medical attention.
Additional Information Supporting the Diagnosis
When making a diagnosis, it is crucial to take into account additional information regarding the gender, age, and lifestyle of the patient. For example, participation in the high school football team puts more strain on the knees due to the increased frequency of flexion and extension (Corbi et al., 2022). This may confirm the established diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease since the physical examination determined bilateral tenderness at the tibial tubercles.
Treatment Strategies for the Patient
Treatment strategies for the disease should be centered around reducing patient pain and eliminating inflammation in the knee. To better promote relief and recovery, the patient may be advised to reduce the intensity of physical activity (Neuhaus et al., 2021). This will allow the muscles and tendons to rest and promote their recovery.
Patient and Family Education
The patient and his mother must be provided with educational information that Osgood-Schlatter’s disease is not life-threatening and can be treated (Neuhaus et al., 2021). In addition, it is essential to talk about which painkillers can be used to relieve knee pain. Such information will be vital because it will improve the patient’s condition by better understanding the disease.
References
Corbi, F., Matas, S., Álvarez-Herms, J., Sitko, S., Baiget, E., Reverter-Masia, J., & López-Laval, I. (2022). Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Appearance, Diagnosis and Treatment: A Narrative Review. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 6, p. 1011). MDPI. Web.
Neuhaus, C., Appenzeller-Herzog, C., & Faude, O. (2021). A systematic review on conservative treatment options for Osgood-Schlatter disease. Physical Therapy in Sport, 49, 178-187. Web.