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Osgood-Schlatter disease — DCH MCQ

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EasyPaediatric SportOsgood-Schlatter diseaseDCH

A 13-year-old footballer with Osgood-Schlatter disease has improved after modifying his training load. He can manage daily activities comfortably, but sprinting and forceful kicking still reproduce pain over the tibial tubercle. What is the most appropriate return-to-play decision?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: A — Continue a graded return, increasing load only as pain allows

The correct answer is A. Return to sport in Osgood-Schlatter disease should be guided by symptoms and progressive load tolerance. Pain during sprinting and forceful kicking shows that unrestricted football training remains premature, although comfortable lower-load activity can continue and be increased gradually. Continuing through reproducible pain risks a symptomatic flare, so A is inappropriate. Complete sporting cessation until skeletal maturity is unnecessary, making B too restrictive. Corticosteroid injection is not a return-to-play clearance strategy; management is conservative and based on load modification. A normal radiograph would not demonstrate functional readiness or override activity-related symptoms, so E is also incorrect.

Reference: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Osgood-Schlatter disease, Activity modification section. Approved 17 September 2024. https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/osgood-schlatter-disease/