A Comparison of Two Different Treatment Approaches for Adolescents With Osgood Schlatter

A Comparison of Two Different Treatment Approaches for Adolescents With Osgood Schlatter: A Randomized Controlled Superiority Trial (The SOGOOD Trial)

The most common growth-related injury is Osgood Schlatter, which affects up to 1 in 5 physically active adolescents. It can cause long-term pain and potential discontinuation of sports and physical activity, with sequela well into adulthood. No effective conservative treatments have been documented, and clinical practice is characterized by a wealth of conflicting advice and modalities. A novel treatment approach has shown promising results in a small single-cohort study. Therefore, this study aims to compare this novel treatment with usual care in 10-16-year-old adolescents with Osgood Schlatter.

This single-center pragmatic, double-blinded, randomized, controlled superiority trial, will have a two-group parallel arm design. Participants will undergo 3 months of treatment, followed by 2 months of self-management with self-reported knee function (KOOS-child 'Sport/rec') at 5 months as the primary endpoint.

This trial comparing a novel treatment with usual care for adolescents with Osgood Schlatter could result in an evidence-based treatment ready for implementation in clinical practice, benefitting patients outcomes and clinicians.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Tenderness on palpation of the tibial tuberosity or pain during resisted isometric knee extensions
• Insidious onset of pain or swelling of the tibial tuberosity for ≥6 weeks
• Provoked by at least 2 of the following positions or activities; prolonged sitting or kneeling, squatting, running, hopping/jumping, stair walking or during multidirectional sports
• Clinical diagnosis of Osgood Schlatter
• Markedly reduced sports participation OR severely affected by pain during sports participation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other primary pathology or complaints from other structures of the knee
• Other injuries, complaints or illnesses that may cause disability, or specifically restricts levels of physical activity or sports participation
• Previous surgery in the lower extremities or lumbar spine
• Congenital deformities, device implants og cysts og tumors of the knee
• Participants not willing to cease concomitant treatment
• Participants and their parents not able to understand and communicate in written and verbal Danish