Physeal fusion status and lesion size are more important than patient age for healing of juvenile osteochodritis dessicans lesions of the distal femur.

The extent of fusion of the distal femoral physis (multi-stage grading) may be more strongly correlated with nonoperative healing than other markers of skeletal maturity or chronological age. Clinicians can use this as an additional radiographic sign when considering nonoperative treatment for juvenile OCD lesions in the distal femur. OCD lesion length and physeal fusion status appear to be more important for healing than patient age.