Progressive Osteochondral Defect of the Medial Femoral Condyle in a Collegiate Football Player: A Case Report.

CASE: A 21-year-old male Division I American football wide receiver presented with atraumatic anteromedial left knee pain. Initial MRI revealed no osteochondral defect, and he was treated conservatively. As symptoms worsened, serial MRI revealed a progressive medial femoral condyle lesion with subchondral depression. He subsequently underwent an osteochondral allograft transplantation and achieved a full recovery. The time from initial presentation to diagnosis was approximately 7 months.

CONCLUSION

Progressive osteochondral defects may not be visible on initial MRI. In athletes with persistent knee pain, clinical suspicion and serial imaging are important for preventing delayed diagnosis and optimizing outcomes.