Long-term Prognosis and Impact of Osgood-Schlatter Disease 4 Years After Diagnosis: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Knee pain is common during adolescence, with Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) being the most frequent condition. Despite this, research regarding the long-term prognosis of OSD is limited. PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognosis 2 to 6 years after the diagnosis of OSD. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with OSD at a single orthopaedic department between 2010 and 2016. Patients were contacted in 2018 and asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire regarding knee pain, knee function (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS] Sports/Recreation subscale), Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (youth version of EuroQol 5 dimensions 3 levels [EQ-5D-3L-Y]), and physical activity. RESULTS: Out of 84 patients, 43 responded. Of these, 60.5% (n = 26) reported OSD-related knee pain at follow-up (median follow-up, 3.75 years). The median symptom duration was 90 months (interquartile range, 24-150 months) for those still experiencing knee pain, and 42.9% of these reported daily knee pain. Fifty-four percent with knee pain had reduced their sports participation compared with 35.3% of those without knee pain. KOOS Sports/Recreation subscale scores were significantly lower in those with knee pain compared with those without knee pain (53 [95% CI, 42-63] vs 85 [95% CI, 76-94], respectively). Participants with knee pain reported lower HRQoL (0.71 [95% CI, 0.57-0.84]) compared with those without knee pain (0.99 [95% CI, 0.97-1.00]). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that OSD may not always be self-limiting. The lower self-reported function and HRQoL in those with continued pain may be a consequence of impaired physical activity due to knee pain.