Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Lesion

Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Lesion (or syndrome) is one of a group of injuries known as osteochondroses which cause knee pain in adolescents. Other similar injuries include Osgood's Schlatter Disease. It is a chronic stress injury to the base of the patella (knee cap).

Symptoms of Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Lesion

  • Pain at the front of the knee.
  • Pain gets worse during or after exercise.
  • It may be tender to touch around the base of the knee cap.

What is Sinding Larson Johansson Syndrome?

Sinding-Larsen-Johansson lesion or syndrome usually affects young boys, up to the early teens. It is caused by a combination of excessive traction on the patella from the patella tendon and usually a period of rapid growth.

This condition is described as the adolescent equivolent to Jumper's knee (patella tendinopathy). Other alternative diagnoses include osgood schlatters disease and a bipartitie patella.

Cases of Sinding-Larsen-Johansson usually correct themselves once the skeleton matures.

Treatment

  • Relative rest from aggravating activities.
  • Cold therapy to ease pain and inflammation.
  • Gentle quad stretching exercises (provided they are pain-free).
  • Quad strengthening.
  • Sports massage to the quads to aid flexibility and to the tendon to aid blood flow and break down adhesions.