Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum

Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow occurs in up to 3% of young athletes. These lesions, although often asymptomatic, can cause a significant interruption in a young athlete’s sports participation and in his or her day-to-day lives when the disease goes undiagnosed or is allowed to progress until significant symptoms occur. The presence of these OCD lesions is now better recognized, but their etiology is often not known and is certainly multifactorial in many instances. Once the disease is diagnosed and defined by history, physical examination, and radiologic evaluation, the best treatment options can be discussed. The lesions can be treated by either conservative or operative methods with good to excellent results reported in most situations. Ultimately the decision on how to treat a particular lesion is determined both by the extent of the lesion and by the athlete’s desire to participate in the chosen sport. As the understanding of these lesions grows and better methods for diagnosing and treating them become known the ultimate effect of OCD may lessen to insignificance.