A common cause of knee pain in active, growing children
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common knee condition in growing children, typically between ages 10 and 15.
It causes pain and swelling just below the kneecap, at the bony bump called the tibial tuberosity. A visible bump may develop at this spot.
It is especially common in children who play sports involving running, jumping, and quick direction changes.
Bones grow quickly, but muscles and tendons can't keep up with the pace
The quadriceps tighten and pull on the patellar tendon, which connects to the tibial tuberosity
Every jump and sprint puts strong, repetitive force on the growth plate
The area below the knee becomes swollen, painful, and a bony bump develops
Most children improve within weeks to months, and the pain often settles by the time growth finishes. However, in about 10% of cases some pain persists into adulthood, and treatment needs to be continued if symptoms drag on. It's important not to push through pain and to return to sports gradually.
Surgery is rarely needed.
If the bony bump continues to cause pain into adulthood, a small surgical procedure to remove the loose bone fragment (ossicle) may be considered. However, the vast majority of cases settle without surgery.