Surgery in a skeletally immature patient is almost never indicated. In 36 years of practice, this author has never operated on a skeletally immature child for excision of an ossicle. Removal of ossicle fragmentation in immature patients with an unfused apophysis can lead to premature fusion of the tibial tubercle.[3]
Tibial tubercle avulsions occasionally can occur due to the contracture of the extensor mechanism. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) usually is recommended, depending on the size and displacement of the fragment as well as the phase of apophyseal closure.
In a study of the surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD), Pihlajamäki et al concluded that in most young adults, good to excellent functional outcomes can be achieved with surgical treatment of unresolved OSD.[12] The investigators examined postsurgical clinical courses, radiographic characteristics, and long-term outcomes of 107 military recruits (117 knees) who were operated on for the condition. Functional outcome data were gathered from medical records, interviews, questionnaires, and physical and radiographic examinations. By the end of a (median) 10-year follow-up period, 93 patients (87%) reported that they could participate without restriction in daily and work activities, and 80 patients (75%) had regained their preoperative sports activity level. In addition, 41 patients (38%) reported the ability to kneel without pain. Minor postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients, and 2 patients required reoperation forOSD.
In a review of a series of patients who were treated operatively, Binazzi et al found that the most widely used procedure was excision of all intratendinous ossicles, with or without removal of a portion of the prominent tibial tubercle.[13] A comparison of 2 groups of individuals, 1 with 15 individuals treated with excision of ossicles and 1 with 11 individuals treated with various methods before 1975, clearly showed that results of simple excision of the ossicles were better.
A study looked to determine the outcomes of bursoscopic ossicle excision in young, skeletally-mature, active patients with unresolved symptoms from an ossicle related to prior Osgood-Schlatter disease. The study concluded that bursoscopic ossicle excision showed satisfactory outcomes in selective young, skeletally-mature, and active patients with persistent symptoms and the presence of an ossicle. However, the authors added that bursoscopic surgery showed limitation in reducing the prominence of the tibial tuberosity.[14]
In another study, patients treated operatively were found to be no more likely than conservatively treated patients to be relieved of pain or to have improvement of cosmetic appearance.
Indications for surgery
Surgery to treat OSD is rarely indicated. Occasionally, adults have a large ossicle and an overlying bursa, which may cause pain with kneeling. If so, treatment consists of excision of the bursa, ossicle, and any prominence.[15] Surgical treatment is rarely, if ever, indicated in children.
Contraindications for surgery
The real question is whether or not surgery is ever indicated in the growing child, as OSD is self-limiting. Trail reviewed 2 groups of symptomatic patients with this condition with 4-5 years of follow-up.[16] One group was treated surgically with tibial sequestrectomy, and the other was managed conservatively. Surgery was found to offer no significant benefit over conservative care. In addition, a significant complication rate was identified with tibial sequestrectomy.
Complications
Following resection of an ossicle, complications include continued pain and poor cosmetic appearance. In the study by Trail, 55% of patients had an obvious bony prominence postoperatively. One third of these prominences were quite marked and troublesome, and 3 required a subsequent shaving.[16] One patient lost 10° of flexion, and another patient had 10° of recurvatum. Other complications that may occur include dehiscence, unsightly scar, anesthesia lateral to the scar, and continued presence of sequestra.