Faculty Collaboration Database

Descriptive Epidemiology From the Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) Prospective Cohort. Am J Sports Med 2022 Jan;50(1):118-127

Date

11/25/2021

Pubmed ID

34818065

DOI

10.1177/03635465211057103

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85122439185 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   25 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) occurs most commonly in the knees of young individuals. This condition is known to cause pain and discomfort in the knee and can lead to disability and early knee osteoarthritis. The cause is not well understood, and treatment plans are not well delineated. The Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) group established a multicenter, prospective cohort to better understand this disease.

PURPOSE: To provide a baseline report of the ROCK multicenter prospective cohort and present a descriptive analysis of baseline data for patient characteristics, lesion characteristics, and clinical findings of the first 1000 cases enrolled into the prospective cohort.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: Patients were recruited from centers throughout the United States. Baseline data were obtained for patient characteristics, sports participation, patient-reported measures of functional capabilities and limitations, physical examination, diagnostic imaging results, and initial treatment plan. Descriptive statistics were completed for all outcomes of interest.

RESULTS: As of November 2020, a total of 27 orthopaedic surgeons from 17 institutions had enrolled 1004 knees with OCD, representing 903 patients (68.9% males; median age, 13.1 years; range, 6.3-25.4 years), into the prospective cohort. Lesions were located on the medial femoral condyle (66.2%), lateral femoral condyle (18.1%), trochlea (9.5%), patella (6.0%), and tibial plateau (0.2%). Most cases involved multisport athletes (68.1%), with the most common primary sport being basketball for males (27.3% of cases) and soccer for females (27.6% of cases). The median Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKCD) score was 59.9 (IQR, 45.6-73.9), and the median Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (Pedi-FABS) score was 21.0 (IQR, 5.0-28.0). Initial treatments were surgical intervention (55.4%) and activity restriction (44.0%). When surgery was performed, surgeons deemed the lesion to be stable at intraoperative assessment in 48.1% of cases.

CONCLUSION: The multicenter ROCK group has been able to enroll the largest knee OCD cohort to date. This information is being used to further understand the pathology of OCD, including its cause, associated comorbidities, and initial presentation and symptoms. The cohort having been established is now being followed longitudinally to better define and elucidate the best treatment algorithms based on these presenting signs and symptoms.

Author List

Nissen CW, Albright JC, Anderson CN, Busch MT, Carlson C, Carsen S, Chambers HG, Edmonds EW, Ellermann JM, Ellis HB Jr, Erickson JB, Fabricant PD, Ganley TJ, Green DW, Grimm NL, Heyworth BE, Po JHH, Kocher MS, Kostyun RO, Krych AJ, Latz KH, Loveland DM, Lyon RM, Mayer SW, Meenen NM, Milewski MD, Myer GD, Nelson BJ, Nepple JJ, Nguyen JC, Pace JL, Paterno MV, Pennock AT, Perkins CA, Polousky JD, Saluan P, Shea KG, Shearier E, Tompkins MA, Wall EJ, Weiss JM, Willimon SC, Wilson PL, Wright RW, Zbojniewicz AM, Carey JL, ROCK Group

Authors

John B. Erickson DO Assistant Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Roger M. Lyon MD Adjunct Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Knee Joint
Male
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies