- August 04, 2025 K.B., an 18-year-old high school basketball player, was born with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)—a condition in which a lack of blood flow causes the bone beneath the joint cartilage to weaken and break down. By middle school, he was dealing with constant knee pain, and by his sophomore season, he was playing with bone-on-bone contact and swelling, unable to play without fear. “I had a huge fear of jumping and running,” he said. “You’re just always thinking, ‘What if?’”
After the season ended, K.B. underwent a complex cartilage restoration procedure with Dr. Brian Cole, including an osteochondral allograft transplant and tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) to restore joint surface integrity and reduce stress on the cartilage.
Now 1.5 years post-op, K.B. is pain-free and back to full competition, averaging double-digit points and moving confidently on the court. “It’s an amazing experience to not feel fear on the court and to be able to make any step I need,” he said. “I used to not be able to Euro step without a fear of injuring it. I’m finally able to do that. I hit one tonight. I’m happy. It makes me so happy.”
His coach added ”You could see last year he was playing contained. He didn’t have the same lift. Now he’s free. He’s able to explode again.”
“I’m excited for the rest of the season where I don’t have to worry anymore,” K.B. said.
