The Efficacy of Bracing in Nonoperative Care of Medial Femoral Condyle Osteochondritis Dissecans: A Study From the Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) Study Group.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2026

Identifier

DOI: 10.1177/03635465261429407

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions are primarily treated nonoperatively. Nonoperative treatment includes several recommendations, including the use of an unloader brace. However, little is known about the clinical effectiveness of unloader bracing and its influence on OCD healing, return to sports, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of unloader bracing on patients with stable medial femoral condyle (MFC) OCD lesions treated nonoperatively.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of valgus unloader bracing on the success of treating stable MFC OCD with nonoperative treatment strategies.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS: The authors used a prospective cohort of patients receiving nonoperative care for stable MFC knee OCD lesions. The primary variable of interest was the efficacy of bracing. The primary outcomes were transition from nonoperative care to surgical intervention, return-to-play (RTP) clearance, and PROs. Bivariate testing was used to determine if there were differences between groups. Chi-square testing was used to determine if there were differences in rates of transition to surgery by group. The timing of the transition by each group was assessed using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test, given the nonparametric nature of the data. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate time at risk, incidence rate, and survival times for each group.

RESULTS: A total of 185 knees (bracing group: 123 [66.5%] knees; no-bracing group: 62 [33.5%] knees) were analyzed. Overall, 142 (76.8%) knees were successfully treated nonoperatively. Transition to surgery occurred in 43 (23.2%) knees. There were no differences in transition to surgery by groups, with no differences seen by group. Of the knees that did not transition to surgical care, 65 (71.4%) in the bracing group and 38 (74.5%) in the no-bracing group received RTP clearance (P = .693). PRO scores were similar between the 2 groups at the time of RTP clearance.

CONCLUSION: The inclusion of an unloader brace in the nonoperative treatment for stable MFC OCD lesions did not decrease the likelihood of patients undergoing surgical intervention or improve their PRO scores at the time of RTP clearance.

REGISTRATION: NCT02771496 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Journal Title

The American journal of sports medicine

Volume

54

Issue

6

First Page

1415

Last Page

1422

MeSH Keywords

Humans; Braces; Male; Osteochondritis Dissecans; Female; Prospective Studies; Adolescent; Return to Sport; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Young Adult; Adult; Femur; Treatment Outcome; Knee Joint

PubMed ID

41981903

Keywords

medial femoral condyle; nonoperative care; osteochondritis dissecans; valgus unloader bracing

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