[Osteochondrosis in children and adolescents]

Osteochondrosis in children and adolescents is a group of diseases and not a variant of growth. They often occur during periods of rapid growth, with predilection sites at many epiphyses and apophyses as well as along the growth plates. There is a classic age of onset for each of the many different diseases.

Presentation of the most important entities (Perthes disease, Köhler I disease, Sever's disease, Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansen disease, Scheuermann's disease).

Presentation of the entities mentioned with the clinical presentation and a brief overview of the therapy; radiological changes are illustrated.

In various cases, the diagnosis can be made solely on clinical grounds. If imaging is necessary, conventional X‑rays are usually taken. In Perthes disease, a magnetic resonance imaging scan is indicated in the early stages of the disease.

It is important to be aware of the predilection sites and the age of manifestation of the respective disease. If treatment is necessary, it will be based on the radiological changes, among other things. Correct implementation and diagnosis (in close cooperation with the clinical colleagues) are therefore essential.