A. Osgoode Schlatters Disease is, technically, an osteochondritis of the tibial tubercle. It is more common in boys than girls and the diagnosis is usually made in late childhood or early adolescense.
As you can see from the picture, there is a tendon that goes from the patella (knee cap) to the tibial tubercle (the bump 2 or 3 finger breadths under your knee cap on the front of your leg). When you are young and active, you tend to put alot of strain on this tendon. Osgood Schlatter Disease is the result of micro-fractures of the tibial tubercle caused by excessive pulling on it before it has matured and grown strong.
People complain of activity-related pain in their knee and often notice a bony enlargement of the tubercle. (Look around, guys often have big protruding tibial tubercles compared to their female counterparts!)
As for your son, the best way to avoid the pain he is experiencing is to cut back on certain activities. Anti-inflammatory pills have not been shown to be useful, but rest, restriction of certain activities and a good exercise program have all been used with success. Should he stop playing basketball? Well, that depends. If basketball is one activity which causes him a tremendous amount of pain, he probably should cut back. Chatting with your family doc who knows more about your sons athletic status, range of activities and the degree of the problem would be the best way to decide.
And remember, the good news is that the pain of Osgood Schlatter Disease will go away, about 6 months to a year after skeletal maturity.
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