Osteochondritis of the Elbow Wheeless

Description: Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
See: Injuries of the Throwing Elbow - Discussion: - OCD is a localized fragmentation of the bone and overlying cartilage of the capitellum; - it frequently progresses to loose body formation, and sometimes progresses to posttraumatic arthritis; - laxity of the MCL may accentuate the loading on the capitellum; - osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum tends to occur in patients 10-16 years of age; - it is commonly found in young (10 yr old) baseball pitchers; - during the acceleration phase, the elbow assumes a valgus position which loads the capitellum; - it should be distinguished from Panner's Disease: