Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesion Location Is Highly Concordant With Mechanical Axis Deviation

Background: The cause of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is unknown.

Purpose: To determine if mechanical axis deviation correlates with OCD lesion location in the knee, if degree of mechanical axis deviation correlates with size of OCD lesion, and if the deformity was primarily in the distal femur or proximal tibia.

Study design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: We identified 61 knees that underwent osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation for femoral condyle OCD lesions and used preoperative lower extremity alignment radiographs to measure lower extremity mechanical axis, mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), and hip-knee-ankle angle. Lesion location and area were retrieved from operative records.

Results: The location of the OCD lesion was the medial femoral condyle (MFC) for 37 knees and lateral femoral condyle (LFC) for 24 knees. Among knees with MFC lesions, alignment was varus in 25 (68%). Conversely, knees with LFC lesions had valgus alignment in 16 (67%). The mLFDA was significantly more valgus in the LFC group. mMPTA was not different between MFC and LFC groups. There was no significant correlation between degree of mechanical axis deviation and lesion size.

Conclusion: In this cohort, two-thirds of patients with symptomatic OCD lesions had associated mechanical axis deviation. Lesion location correlated with mechanical axis deviation (LFC lesions were associated with a deformity in the distal femur). Degree of deformity was not correlated with lesion size. Mechanical axis deviation may play a role in OCD pathogenesis. These data do not allow analysis of the role of mechanical axis deviation in causation or prognosis of OCD lesions, but surgeons treating OCD should be aware of this common association.