How common is OCD of the elbow?

Epidemiology. Elbow OCD presents typically in adolescent athletes engaged in repetitive overhead or upper extremity weight-bearing activities (e.g., baseball, tennis, volleyball, weight lifting and gymnastics). The prevalence of OCD of the humeral capitellum was 3.4% among more than 2000 adolescent baseball players[2].

What causes elbow osteochondritis dissecans?

The cause of osteochondritis dissecans is unknown. The reduced blood flow to the end of the affected bone might result from repetitive trauma — small, multiple episodes of minor, unrecognized injury that damage the bone. There might be a genetic component, making some people more inclined to develop the disorder.

What causes elbow OCD?

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the outer elbow side of the arm bone, or capitellum, is a condition that results from repetitive trauma to the capitellum. It usually occurs in baseball players, but can occasionally happen in other athletes that throw overhead.

How is osteochondritis dissecans treated in the elbow?

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum is most often seen in adolescents who participate in sports that involve repetitive loading of the elbow. Unstable defects typically require surgical intervention that involves fragment fixation, debridement, or reconstruction with an osteochondral autograft transfer.

How long does it take to recover from OCD elbow surgery?

After the surgery, you will be advised not to return to any overhead throwing sports or activities until the injury is completely healed, even if motion is restored and pain is absent. It may take between 4 months to 2 years to fully recover from OCD of the capitellum.

What happens if osteochondritis dissecans is left untreated?

If left untreated, osteochondritis dissecans can damage the cartilage in the joint, and loose pieces of bone and cartilage may even break off into the joint. In the long term, untreated osteochondritis dissecans can also lead to arthritis. Osteochondritis dissecans most commonly affects the knee, ankle and elbow.

What happens if osteochondritis dissecans goes untreated?

Can OCD be cured by surgery?

Bilateral cingulotomy is a type of brain surgery considered a last resort for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is also used to treat major depression and occasionally chronic pain for persons who haven’t found relief from any other form of therapy.

Is surgery necessary for osteochondritis dissecans?

Nonsurgical options include: Healing of the osteochondritis dissecans lesion should be monitored by routine follow-up imaging tests. In many younger children who still have a lot of growing to do, the lesion often heals on its own. Surgical intervention may be needed if nonsurgical treatment is not effective.

How long does it take to recover from osteochondritis dissecans?

Osteochondritis dissecans happens most often in the knee, elbow, or ankle. It usually takes 3 months or longer to heal completely. If it heals completely, kids who have it usually don’t have any long-lasting problems.

What does OCD do to the brain?

Unfortunately, obsessive-compulsive disorder diminishes the amount of grey matter in the brain, making people with OCD less able to control their impulses. Low levels of grey matter can also change the way you process information, making you more likely to obsess over “bad thoughts” whether you intend to or not.

What is osteochondritis dissecans (Ed)?

The term osteochondritis dissecans has persisted, and has since been broadened to describe a similar process occurring in many other joints, including the knee, hip, elbow, and metatarsophalangeal joints. Pathological specimen from a sow— the arrow points to a fracture in the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. Hematoxylin and eosin staining.

What are the risks of osteochondritis dissecans?

Osteochondritis dissecans can increase your risk of eventually developing osteoarthritis in that joint. Adolescents participating in organized sports might benefit from education on the risks to their joints associated with overuse.

How is osteochondritis dissecans diagnosed?

To diagnose osteochondritis dissecans, the doctor will perform a physical examination and will assess the joint’s stability. The doctor may order tests, including the following: X-rays, which will show the bone, locate the lesion and reveal its size. A magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI), along with an ultrasound.

Can osteochondritis dissecans of the knee be fixed with screws?

This can help regenerate healthy bone and cartilage in the area damaged by OCD. In this x-ray of the knee, an OCD lesion has been fixed in place with two screws. Reproduced with permission from Crawford DC, Safran MR: Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2006; 14: 90-100.