Osteochondral Lesion of the Femoral Head in a Fencer: A Case Report

Abstract not available. Introduction provided instead.

Osteochondral lesions, including osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in the elbow, knee, and ankle, are very common in athletes.^1-3 However, there are few reports of
osteochondral lesions of the hip.^4,5 Weaver and colleagues⁵ reported 11 cases of femoral head osteochondral lesions in athletes. Other authors have reported subchondral stress fractures of the femoral head associated with repeated impaction and axial loads in young populations.^4,6-8

We report a rare case of an osteochondral lesion in a young female fencer. Repeated axial impaction force may cause osteochondral lesions of the femoral head in addition to stress fractures. This condition is easily overlooked because
there are less typical clinical findings. We emphasize the usefulness of arthroscopy to diagnose this rare condition and to avoid unnecessary surgical treatment, such as osteotomy and arthroplasty.