Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Iliotibial band syndrome is an inflammatory condition
caused when a band of tissue rubs over the outer bone (lateral
condyle) of the knee. Although iliotibial band syndrome
may be caused by direct injury to the knee, it is most often
caused by the stress of long-term overuse, such as sometimes
occurs in sports training and, particularly, in running.
Symptoms
A person with this syndrome feels an ache or burning sensation
at the side of the knee during activity. Pain may be localized
at the side of the knee or radiate up the side of the thigh.
A person may also feel a snap when the knee is bent and
then straightened. Swelling is usually absent and knee
motion is normal.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of this disorder is typically based on the symptoms,
such as pain at the outer bone, and exclusion of other
conditions with similar symptoms.
Treatment
Usually, iliotibial band syndrome disappears if the person
reduces activity and performs stretching exercises followed by
muscle-strengthening exercises. In rare cases when the syndrome
doesn’t disappear, surgery may be necessary to split
the tendon so it isn’t stretched too tightly over the bone.
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Osteochondritis dissecans results from a loss of the blood
supply to an area of bone underneath a joint surface. It
usually involves the knee. The affected bone and its covering
of cartilage gradually loosen and cause pain. This problem
usually arises spontaneously in an active adolescent or young
adult. It may be due to a slight blockage of a small artery or
to an unrecognized injury or tiny fracture that damages the
overlying cartilage. A person with this condition may eventually
develop osteoarthritis.
Lack of a blood supply can cause bone to break down
(osteonecrosis4). The involvement of several joints or the
appearance of osteochondritis dissecans in several family
members may indicate that the disorder is inherited.
Symptoms
If normal healing doesn’t occur, cartilage separates from the
diseased bone and a fragment breaks loose into the knee
joint, causing weakness, sharp pain, and locking of the joint.
Diagnosis
An x ray, MRI, or arthroscopy can determine the condition
of the cartilage and can be used to diagnose osteochondritis
dissecans.
Treatment
If cartilage fragments have not broken loose, a surgeon may
fix them in place with pins or screws that are sunk into the
cartilage to stimulate a new blood supply. If fragments are
loose, the surgeon may scrape down the cavity to reach fresh
bone, add a bone graft, and fix the fragments in position.
Fragments that cannot be mended are removed, and the cavity
is drilled or scraped to stimulate new cartilage growth.
Research is being done to assess the use of cartilage cell and
other tissue transplants to treat this disorder.