Osteochondritis dissecans is a small area of damaged bone and cartilage (tissue that protects and supports bones) that can become loose or break away from the rest of the bone. Kids who have it usually have pain in the area, especially when they are active. If it's not treated, it can lead to continued pain, swelling, catching or locking of the joint, and sometimes arthritis (a condition that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness).

Your child has had surgery for osteochondritis dissecans. By following your surgeon's directions about resting the ankle and going to physical therapy, your child should heal completely and be able to return to all of their usual activities within about six months.

Follow your surgeon’s instructions for:

• How long your child needs to keep weight off the ankle
• Wearing and caring for the brace or splint
• Using crutches safely
• When it’s OK to remove any bandages and how to clean and care for the incisions (surgery cuts)
• When it’s OK for your child to take a bath or shower (usually 2–3 days after surgery)
• Keeping the incisions dry during bathing, for example by wrapping the ankle in plastic wrap and/or hanging it over the side of the tub
• When it’s OK to put the ankle fully under water (in a bath or pool)
• Any exercises or stretches your child should do
• When it’s OK for your child to start adding activities and sports
• For older kids, when your child can drive again
• Going to physical therapy (PT)
• Returning for follow-up appointments

For pain and swelling:

• Give your child any medicines your surgeon recommends for pain. These may include prescription pain medicine, acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand), or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Some prescription pain medicines also include acetaminophen or ibuprofen. To avoid giving too much, give the medicines exactly as your surgeon recommends.
• Help your child get their mind off the pain by:
  • Doing something they enjoy, like reading a book or watching a show together
  • Listening to relaxing music
• Put ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel on the outside of the bandage or brace for 20 minutes every 3 hours. Do not put ice directly on the skin, bandage, or brace.
• Use pillows to raise the foot when your child is sitting or lying down for the first few days after surgery.

Your child:

• Can’t pee by the evening of the surgery
• Gets a fever
• Has swelling or numbness in the foot that isn’t helped by loosening the bandage and raising the leg
• Has pain that isn’t helped by the pain medicine
• Has blood or fluid draining from the incisions

Your child has:

• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Calf pain or swelling that's getting worse

These can be signs of a blood clot, which is a very rare problem that can happen after surgery.

What happens during surgery for osteochondritis dissecans? The surgeon removes damaged tissue and attaches any bone or cartilage that has become loose back onto the bone.

When can someone return to activities after surgery for osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle? It's important to be fully healed before returning to normal activities. Generally, this takes 6 months or longer.

Why do osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the ankle happen? Osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the ankle usually happen after an injury from sports or another activity. They can sometimes happen when someone uses an ankle too much for a sport and makes the same movements over and over. Genetic (inherited) factors can also play a role in whether a child develops an osteochondritis dissecans.