TABLE 1.

Articular Chondral and Osteochondral Lesions in the Knee Joint Among Children and Adolescents

Anatomic differences exist among adult and children/adolescent articular cartilage, which are mainly related to direct vascular access from the subchondral bone to the cartilage layer.

Prepubertal patients are equipped with a stronger cellular regeneration potential than adults; chondrocytes and stem cells have superior proliferation and differentiation properties.

Chondral and osteochondral lesions are highly frequent among children and adolescents, most often related to sports injuries.

The knee joint is the most often affected location.

Osteochondral abnormalities are more frequent than chondral abnormalities.

Traumatic patellar dislocations are the most frequent underlying abnormality resulting in joint surface abnormalities.

Osteochondritis dissecans is the most frequent nontraumatic abnormality resulting in articular cartilage defects.

Degenerative articular cartilage defects occur very seldom.