The bones at the base of the cartilage can become partially necrotic due to a lack of blood flow to the area. Over time, a portion of the cartilage may become degenerative and gradually detach itself from the surrounding bone. OCD can be caused by a traumatic accident to the ankle as well.

When patients suffer an ankle injury, they may experience swelling and pain. In some severe cases, they may even hear sounds created by their bones. In the absence of any traumatic incident, an unstable gait or pain and inflammation after walking up and down stairs may be an indicator of OCD. Then patients develop OCD, they may feel a jamming or pinching sensation inside the ankle joint, and experience a lack of fluid motion. OCD may also be accompanied by acute pain, inflammation, stiffness, and rigidness. In particular, OCD often occurs in growing children and young adults between the ages of 11 and 21.

OCD can be diagnosed with an X-ray, CT, or MRI scan. The important thing to note here is that X-rays may show no abnormal markers even if the patient has OCD. A CT scan is much more useful since it shows the exact extent and location of the injury. It is also useful when following up on the prognosis of any surgical repair to address OCD.