Osgood-Schlatter Disease Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Jan 25, 2024
  • Author: James R Gregory, MD; Chief Editor: Craig C Young, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

The most significant pitfall is failing to diagnose another condition that could result in long-term permanent damage (eg, tumor, osteochondritis dissecans). Most other conditions have a more concerning clinical examination or history. Therefore, always obtain radiographs and consider the possibility of a referred pain syndrome from the hip.

Conditions to be considered in the differential diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD), in addition to those in the next section, include the following:

  • Sinding-Larson-Johansson syndrome

  • Tumor (bone or soft tissue)

  • Perthes disease (often presents with knee pain instead of hip complaints)

  • Patellar tendon avulsion/rupture

  • Chondromalacia patellae (Patellofemoral syndrome)

  • Patellar tendonitis

  • Infectious apophysitis

  • Accessory ossification centers

  • Osteomyelitis of the proximal tibia

  • Hoffa's syndrome

  • Synovial plica injury

  • Tibial tubercle fracture

Differential Diagnoses