Current management strategies in Osgood Schlatter: A cross-sectional mixed-method study

Lyng, Kristian Damgaard; Rathleff, Michael Skovdal; Dean, Benjamin John Floyd; Kluzek, Stefan; Holden, Sinead

Abstract

Background: Osgood Schlatter disease (OSD) is the most common knee condition in adolescent athletes aged 9-16. Without evidence to guide clinical practice, it is unclear how OSD is managed. The aim of this study was to investigate how international healthcare professionals (general practitioners, physiotherapists, rheumatologists, sports and exercise medicine doctors, and orthopedic surgeons) diagnose and manage OSD. Methods: This mixed-method study used a convergent parallel design. A quantitative questionnaire and semi-structured interview covered prognosis, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play of adolescents with OSD. For quantitative data, those who reported likely/very likely considered “for” and unlikely/very unlikely “against” (for specific diagnostic/management strategy). Qualitative data analysis used a phenomenological approach. Results: Two hundred and fifty-one healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire. The most common diagnostic criterion was pain at the tibial tuberosity (97% for). The most common treatments were patient education (99%) and exercise therapy (92%). Other treatment options were more heterogeneous, for example, pain medication (31% for and 34% against). Managing training load (97%), pain intensity (87%), and psychological factors (86%) were considered the most important factors influencing the return to activities. Several themes emerged from the interviews (on N=20) including imaging, pain management, family, and psychosocial factors influencing prognosis. Conclusion: Diagnosis criteria of OSD were relatively well agreed upon, whereas the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data showed heterogeneity of treatments. Psychosocial factors including family were highlighted as critical in the management of OSD.

Citation

Lyng, K. D., Rathleff, M. S., Dean, B. J. F., Kluzek, S., & Holden, S. (2020). Current management strategies in Osgood Schlatter: A cross-sectional mixed-method study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 30(10), 1985-1991. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13751

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 29, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 26, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Deposit Date: Aug 18, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 27, 2021
• Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
• Print ISSN: 0905-7188
• Electronic ISSN: 1600-0838
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1985-1991
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13751
• Keywords: adolescents; apophysitis; musculoskeletal pain; osgood schlatter disease; osteochondrosis
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4696872
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sms.13751
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Lyng, K., Rathleff, M., Dean, B., Kluzek, S. and Holden, S. (2020), Current Management Strategies in Osgood Schlatter: A cross‐sectional mixed method study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. , which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/sms.13751. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.