Osgood Schlatter Disease

[Guest Eagle_Driver]

I used to have Osgood Schlatter Disease in my left knee when I was younger. However, it's been around 5 or 6 years since the pain has gone away. As of now, there is no pain whatsoever and I can move my knee around freely just like before I had OSD. My question is, will I still be able to pass the medical in the Air Force if I wanted to become a pilot? The doctors wouldn't even know I had OSD, unless they saw my left knee which has a very slight bump to it. I don't think they'd even notice the bump unless I told them. Any help would be great! Thanks!

Jon C.

[Guest F16PilotMD]

Don't worry about it. Most teenage boys that are active have this problem. I've got the 'bumps' to prove it. I wouldn't even mention it...it's basically a growing pain.

[Guest Sparks]

I have had Osgood-Slaughter (bone growth below knees) since about 8th grade. I saw it listed as DQ-ing for rated positions, and I was just wondering if this could get waivered? It doesn't physically affect me.

Thanks

[Guest flecth033]

As long as your knees can function well without any pain or stiffing you should be ok. If you have pain, or it limits your flexibility then you will have problems. I'm not sure how it affects adults because most people only go through it during adolescents. I had to go through the whole knee waiver thing because of multiple MCL repairs. As long as your knee functions right you should be ok. You might have to look at getting it surgically fixed, because I imagine your knees start to hurt after sitting for long periods of time.

[Guest F16PilotMD]

AFI48-123:

A7.26.3.12. Osteochondritis of the tibial tuberosity (Osgood-Schlatter disease) if symptomatic or

with obvious prominence of the part and X-ray evidence of separated bone fragments.

Most males applicants have some degree of this. I frankly never comment on it in the physical. Never seen it bad enough to cause problems with IFC-1.

[Guest bargiel20]

I was trying to look these up, but I either couldn't find a direct answer, or nothing has been said about this. So here are the questions that I have.

1) When I was younger, I was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatters Disease in both knees. In one knee, I had the piece of bone removed during an orthopedic arthroscopy, and the other knee got better. I have no pain from them any more. The only sign that I ever had it was the bumps on my knees. I'm applying for a pilot slot, and was wondering if that would disqualify me. I was looking through the regs for my next question, and saw a standard on this.

2) A couple of months ago, I was playing basketball and landed on the side of my ankle. This was back in October. The physical therapist that I am seeing says that I more than likely tore the arterior something ligament (the one that goes around the outside of the ankle bone). Well, it's December and I still have a little pain in it. The other day, I ran without a brace, and the next day I could hardly move it. This month, my flight is doing its pt testing, and I'm wondering if I should push it and try to finish as fast as I can and possibly screw my ankle up even more, or get put on a profile, give it a little more time to heal, and take my pt test next month. I just don't want to screw it up too bad for the FC1 if I get selected for pilot. And the 2nd part to this question, I've already been on a profile for this once. Would one more throw up a flag to the doctor administering the test, or would they just note it, see that my ankle would be fine, and then just move on?

Any input would be great on this. I just don't want to mess my ankle up and ruin my chances of becoming a pilot. Thanks for all the help.

[ 27. December 2006, 06:14: Message edited by: Toro ]

[Guest P27:17]

Osteochondritis of the tibial tubrosity (Osgoods-Schlatter disease), is disqualifying if symptomatic, or with obvious prominence of the part, and X-ray evidence of separated bone fragments.

As for the ankle issue, why risk further damage/pain if you can get an extra month or 2 to heal? A profile would only be a significant issue if you were still on limitations at the time of the exam. Use the treatments prescribed by your doc/therapist, let it heal completely then tackle the PT test and medical exam...

[Guest bargiel20]

Thanks for the help. Hopefully the knee problem won't be an issue because I haven't had any symptoms of it for about 7-8 years now at least.

[Guest bargiel20]

So does x-ray evidence of separated bone fragments mean that the bone has dislodged from the tendon, or that it is still in the tendon? If so, is that waiverable, or am I SOL? And for a FC1A, would that be a problem as well, or just the FC1? Sorry I have so many questions, I'm just worried about my life goal and dream going down the crapper.

[Guest P27:17]

Here's what I was able to find out...I like your odds!

"A knee that has normal function including range-of-motion and normal strength will likely receive a waiver regardless of the problem.

This person in question has only a 50% chance of needing a waiver and better than a 90% chance of getting waiver approved if he does need one."

[Guest bargiel20]

Alright! Thank you so much. You just mad my day took 100 lbs off of my shoulders. Again, thanks so much for helping me out through this.

[Guest bargiel20]

Well, I just had my MRI appointment with the doc, and he said that it showed my arterior ligament is torn and that there is some soft tissue in there as well. Where do I go from here? Would I be disqualified from receiving a FC1 or would I be able to be put back together in time? I applied for the 07OT01 OTS board, and the results come out in a couple of weeks. I'm going to be calling the orthopedic on base, because the doc I was talking to said that they are going to be the people dealing with me for the rest of this process. Thanks for any help.

[Guest Rage_:P]

You'll need to get individual advice from your orthopedic surgeon as to timing of your surgery. However, you will need to be recovered to move on to the physical and UPT.

A torn anterior cruciate is not necessarily disqualifying. However, if its symptomatic it is.

[Guest Champneys05]

I use to have osteochonritis Dessicans in my left elbow at 18. I had a bone fragment removed then and have not had a problem in 6 years. went to the ortho doc the other day and he said I was good to go and saw no problems. My question is how are waivers for this?

[Guest]

100% if you don't tell them.