Journal of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research

Osteochondral Fracture: Scholarly Peer-review Journal

osteochondral fracture (OCF) occurs when a piece of the smooth surface on the end of the bone fractures. If the fragment stays in place it is considered stable, but if it breaks loose then it is labeled as unstable. Unstable fractures can move around in the joint and cause pain as well as other symptoms. These fragments, or loose bodies, can vary in size. Typically, as the size of the fragment increases the more symptomatic a person will become. This injury most commonly occurs in young adults or adolescents due to the bone being softer and more likely to fracture in this way. An osteochondral fracture can theoretically take place in any joint, but typically the elbow, knee, or ankle are the joints where this injury occurs most often. The mechanism of injury most often occurs in a weight-bearing position with a twisting or torqueing force on the joint. Another possible cause of the OCF happens with a lateral dislocation of the patella. When the patella is pushed back into place, the quadriceps will fire and this can cause a compressive force as the patella moves of over the lateral femoral condyle.    

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