Along with the popularity of youth movement, the incidence of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) showed a trend of increase, but its pathogenesis is not yet clear. Previous studies suggested that trauma is the main potential cause, but with the emergence of vast family cases, hereditary factor is also gradually taken seriously. Arthroscopy is the "gold standard" for diagnosing OCD, but for the patient with early incomplete joint surface lesions, the diagnositic value of MRI is better than the arthroscopy. For the patients with stable form OCD, nonoperative management should be used such as adjusting activity, fixator and drugs; for the patient with unstable form OCD or failing after conservative treatment, surgery should be generally used such as joint clearing, drilling, microfracture method, fixation and transplantation. With the progress of research, stem cell technology and platelet-rich plasma gradually applied in cartilage repair, which will improve the curative effect of OCD, but still further clinical and experimental research, and also a long-term effective follow-up are needed.