Long-term functional and sonographic outcomes in Osgood-Schlatter disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sonographic characteristics, functional aspects and life quality of a group of adolescent patients 2 years after having been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease and compare them with an age-matched healthy control group.

METHODS: The study was conducted on eighteen Osgood-Schlatter patients with unilateral involvement and 14 age-matched healthy controls. The Flaviis classification and patellar tendon characteristics were observed using a GE Logiq 9 scanner. Broad and vertical jump tests were used for jumping performance. The coordination, proprioception, strength and endurance functions were assessed with the Functional Squat System. For the quality of life, the SF-36 questionnaire was used. The Wilcoxon test for the patients' initial and second-year assessment and Mann-Whitney U test for the comparison between the patient and control groups were used.

RESULTS: By the end of second year, 38.9% of the patients had totally recovered. The patellar tendon lengthened, distal diameter and distal area of the tendon had lessened, and no significant difference was observed between patient and control groups (n.s). Improvements were detected for the bilateral broad jump test scores, the quality of life and coordination of the patients after 2 years (p < 0.05). The average power of endurance and the total work of strength were significantly higher in control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: According to the sonography results 2 years after diagnosis, nearly half of the patients had totally recovered. Coordination was the only parameter that improved over the 2-year period. The patient group strength and endurance function remained lower than the control group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.