Van Neck-Odelberg Disease: A Rare Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Pain in groin without any history of trauma or positive clinical findings of infection or stress fracture in ischiopubic ramus poses challenges in diagnosis of the condition in prepubertal age. “Osteochondrosis of ischiopubic synchondrosis (IPS)” also called as “Van Neck-Odelberg” disease. Left leg dominant patient presented with pain in groin and limping with left leg dominance. Differential diagnosis - such as stress fractures, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, post-traumatic osteolysis, or any neoplasia - is need be ruled out to arrive at diagnosis. The literature is reviewed with modern technologies for diagnosis of the same. CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old, left limb dominant boy with tenderness in the right groin as the only clinical finding and sclerotic shadow over ischiopubic region on X-ray posed a challenge for diagnosis. With further studies by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis was done. Hence, we are presenting a case labeled as Van Neck-Odelberg disease. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of Van Neck-Odelberg disease is a challenging diagnosis. Other conditions such as post-traumatic osteolysis, osteomyelitis, and stress fractures in prepubertal age need to be ruled out. Clinical symptoms must be present to label it as osteochondritis of IPS on radiographs as unilateral delayed fusion of the same is a physiological process in asymptomatic cases.