Sever's disease is best described as

Sever's disease is best described as

• A. Osteoarthritis of the ankle in older adults.
• B. Inflammation of the calcaneal growth plate during adolescence.
• C. A tendon rupture at the Achilles tendon insertion.
• D. A stress fracture of the calcaneus.

Answer: (B)

Calcaneal apophysitis, or Sever’s disease, is inflammation of the growth plate at the heel bone where the Achilles tendon inserts. It happens in active children and adolescents during a growth spurt, when repetitive traction from the Achilles on the heel’s growth plate causes microtrauma and heel pain, especially with running or jumping. Clinically, you see heel tenderness at the posterior aspect of the heel, and the pain often improves with rest. Imaging is usually not necessary for diagnosis, or may be normal. This description fits best because it captures the age group, the mechanism (traction on the calcaneal growth plate), and the typical clinical picture. It’s distinct from osteoarthritis of the ankle (degenerative disease in older adults), a tendon rupture at the Achilles insertion (acute, dramatic injury), or a stress fracture of the calcaneus (bone injury with different timing and presentation). Management is conservative: activity modification, heel lifts or padding, calf stretching, and NSAIDs as needed, with gradual return as symptoms improve.

Calcaneal apophysitis, or Sever’s disease, is inflammation of the growth plate at the heel bone where the Achilles tendon inserts. It happens in active children and adolescents during a growth spurt, when repetitive traction from the Achilles on the heel’s growth plate causes microtrauma and heel pain, especially with running or jumping. Clinically, you see heel tenderness at the posterior aspect of the heel, and the pain often improves with rest. Imaging is usually not necessary for diagnosis, or may be normal.

This description fits best because it captures the age group, the mechanism (traction on the calcaneal growth plate), and the typical clinical picture. It’s distinct from osteoarthritis of the ankle (degenerative disease in older adults), a tendon rupture at the Achilles insertion (acute, dramatic injury), or a stress fracture of the calcaneus (bone injury with different timing and presentation). Management is conservative: activity modification, heel lifts or padding, calf stretching, and NSAIDs as needed, with gradual return as symptoms improve.