Long term results in Osgood-Schlatters disease.

The authors were able to establish a relationship between high patella (alta) and Osgood-Schlatter's disease. In a long-term study this was found in 38% of cases. There was also evidence of abnormalities of femoro-patellar relationship in 57% of cases, although only 14% of these had symptoms at the time of follow-up. Two alternative hypotheses on the pathogenesis of the disease are put forward, depending on whether the radiographic changes observed at follow-up were of a pre-existing constitutional type, or the direct result of the disease. This question can be resolved if in future cases a precise radiographic examination is carried out on both knees at the onset of the disease, using the exact technique described so that the relevant parameters can be determined.