Which age group is most commonly affected by Osgood-Schlatter disease?

Which age group is most commonly affected by Osgood-Schlatter disease?

• A. Infants
• B. Toddlers
• C. Teenagers
• D. Elderly

Answer: (C)

Osgood-Schlatter disease arises from irritation of the tibial tubercle where the patellar tendon attaches, driven by repetitive traction during growth. This scenario most often occurs in adolescence when growth spurts are ongoing and many kids are active in jumping and running sports. The insertion site at the tibial tubercle has an open growth plate during these years, making it susceptible to traction injuries from the quadriceps. That combination—open growth plates plus high activity in the teenage years—explains why teenagers are the most commonly affected group. Infants and toddlers don’t have this growth‑plate–driven vulnerability at the tibial tubercle, and elderly individuals usually present with different knee conditions, so they’re not the typical pattern.