Determination, hard work and recovery helped this patient achieve his dream of playing college football.
The 18-year-old from the Quad Cities area of Illinois played basketball, baseball and football growing up. “The older he got, the more football became the love of his life,” his mother, Jessica, said.
Tristan’s success on the field reflected that passion. He earned first-team all-conference honors on defense, was a two-time second-team all-conference selection on the offensive line, and served as team captain during his final two seasons. He received more than 20 college football offers.
But behind those accomplishments was something Tristan had been dealing with for nearly five years: knee pain when he played sports. He initially sought care from a local physician and underwent physical therapy, but the pain persisted.
An MRI revealed a large osteochondritis dissecans lesion in his knee, a condition pediatric orthopedic surgeon Kelsey Davidson, M.D., said is most often seen in pre-teen and teen boys. Bone and cartilage lose blood supply, and a piece may crack off within the joint. His pediatrician referred Tristan to Shriners Children's Chicago for surgical evaluation.
“I was nervous about what the future was for me and football, but I knew Shriners Children’s was the right place to be,” Tristan said.
“The location of Tristan’s lesion, in the trochlear groove, is quite rare,” Dr. Davidson said. “It is more difficult to see on the X-ray because of the overlapping bone, so it can be missed initially unless the physician knows to get a specific view to evaluate.”
Tristan’s mom described it like seeing a “pothole in his femur bone, which was a knee defect.”
In 2025, Dr Davidson performed arthroscopic surgery and then opened his left knee joint to remove the dead tissue and stimulate healing. “We took bone from outside the joint to fill in the hole, then fixed the cartilage portion back into place,” she said.
Shriners Children’s family-centered care goes beyond just advanced surgical techniques. Helping young athletes safely return to the activities that matter to them is a key part of our sports medicine care, with onsite physical therapy and motion analysis available when appropriate.
Immediately following surgery, Tristan was placed on specific weight-bearing restrictions to protect his knee. His progress was monitored through X-rays and clinical evaluations. He gradually advanced through physical therapy and strengthening exercises.
For Tristan, the recovery was worth the wait. “It felt great to return to football without knee pain," he said. “I was excited to be back on the field.”
For Dr. Davidson, seeing patients like Tristan return to sports is rewarding. “Many sports operations require many months of healing, which means the kids are out of their sports for a long time. This can be really difficult for them, as many kids feel their identity is tightly connected to their ability to do their preferred sports. They are so happy when I can finally give them the ‘all clear.’”
Their compassion and genuine interest in getting Tristan back to the activities he loves made a lasting impression on our family.
“The team at Shriners checked in not just on how I was doing before and after surgery, but how school was going and kept up with football and my journey to playing in college,” Tristan said.
In fall 2026, Tristan will reach that goal in the western suburbs of Chicago. He plans to study business while continuing his football career as an offensive guard at North Central College, a three-time NCAA Division III national champion.
To make an appointment with our sports medicine team, call 773-385-KIDS (5437) or request an appointment.
People aged 7 or older who play American football
Percentage of all football fractures that occur in Children ages 10-14
