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Osteochondritis dissecans
Site: Jarrow monastic site, Tyne and Wear.
Period: Late Saxon to post-medieval.
Excavator: Prof. R.J. Cramp, Durham University.
Published: forthcoming.
Skeleton: child, c.13 years.
Catalogue entry: A large osteochondritic pit (23x16mm, c.4mm deep) was present on the medial condyle of the left femur. The knee joint is a common position for this type of lesion, which is related to physical trauma.
Osteochondritis dissecans is a disease of joints, usually starting in adolescence, and is due to an avascular necrosis ('death' of the bone due to poor blood circulation) which affects the sub-chondral bone. It produces small pits in the articular surface of the bone. In modern clinical material, 80% of these lesions are found on the femoral condyles, usually the medial one.