[Bone and joint diseases in children. Etiology and pathogenesis of osteochondral lesions in children. Osteochondritis dissecans and osteochondrosis].

Osteochondral lesions in children mainly occur in the physeal and epiphyseal cartilage. Osteochondritis dissecans and osteochondrosis (apophysitis) are common and clinically important chronic disorders. These etiology and pathogenesis have also been well investigated in the Veterinary medicine in recent years. One of the most likely causes is proposed as a failure of blood supply to growth cartilage and following focal disturbance of endochondral ossification. Mechanical stress, trauma, rapid growth, anatomic conformation, and dietary imbalances would modify this initial step and break down the normal structure. In human, above-mentioned pathological changes can be detected using recent MRI technology, which contribute quite much in the early diagnosis of lesions in clinic. Another problem in children is acute traumatic growth plate injury, which increases the risk of the early closure of growth plate and following deformity of bone and joint. Early diagnosis and precise treatment are extremely important for children to prevent residual deformity and pain and growth disturbance. In future, less-invasive as well as effective treatments for the focally disturbed or accelerated ossification should be developed.