SKELETAL DISEASES NOTES

Osteoporosis: What is it?

Loss of bone density and mass

Bones become more porous, increasing risk of fractures

Osteoporosis

52 year old Female 84 year old Female

Osteoporosis: Causes More common in women, especially of Asian

and European descent Aging leads to a loss of osteoblasts loss in

bone density With the onset of menopause (mid-forties to

fifties), diminishing estrogen levels lead to excessive bone resorption (osteoclast activity)

Osteoporosis: Treatment

Age: Vitamin D and calcium supplements drugs that slow bone loss frequent moderate exercise (help

make bones stronger)Menopause: drugs that raise estrogen levels

Arthritis: What is it? Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune (body

attacking itself) disease which causes joint stiffness and bone deformity

Inflammation and swelling of flexible joints, destruction of articular cartilage, and ankylosis (fusion of joints)

Arthritis

Arthritis: Causes Osteoarthritis is caused

by wear and tear on articular cartilage due to age, injury, frequent use, or infection.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where antibodies attack articular cartilage leading to inflammation etc. While its cause is unknown, there is a genetic component and smokers are at increased risk.

Arthritis: TreatmentDepends on the cause… Anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, steroids) cold-packs immune-suppressing drugs (rheumatoid) Physical Therapy (PT) Surgery Stem cells regrow cartilage

Scoliosis: What is it?An abnormal curvature of the spine from side-to-side. Often not painful, but can be. Most often diagnosed and develops in adolescence. Also seen in elderly patients.

Scoliosis: Causes Mostly unknown.

Can develop from problems in other parts of the body (spina bifida, cerebral palsy), arthritis, improper development of the spine at birth, or have genetic causes.

Treatment Bracing, surgery, PT, and

chiropractics (older patients)

Rickets: What is it? Softening of bones which can lead to

bone tenderness, bow-legged posture, improper skeletal development, tetany (uncontrolled muscle spasms)

Rickets

Rickets: Causes1. Vitamin D deficiency2. Lack of calcium in diet Vitamin D is required for proper calcium

absorption Vitamin D is produced when you are

exposed to sunlight (UV rays). Darker-skinned people require longer exposure to sunlight

Rarely seen in developed countries. Most commonly seen today in developing countries where children are malnourished.

Treatments Vitamin D supplement + Calcium

supplement in diet Exposure to sunlight

Rickets

Children in developed nations don’t go outdoors as much and often play inside on their electronic devices. Why do you think rickets are not a problem then for children in these countries?

Milk + Vitamin D

Blount’s Disease: What is it? Bow-leggedness

that becomes progressively worse with age. Often seen in children and adolescents. Associated with overweight individuals.

Blount’s Disease: Causes The inner part of the

tibia under the patella fails to develop properly leading to a slanting of the bones, angled inward.

This developmental failure is often the result of extra stress placed on the tibia with obese individuals

Blount’s Disease

Blount’s Disease: Treatment Bracing Surgery Diet/Exercise to promote long-

term success of treatment

Sprain: What is it? Usually painful Injured portion often swells and may

turn black and blue Occurs at joints. Result of an injury

to a ligament or to the tissue that covers a joint.

Sprain: Causes Most sprains result from a

sudden wrench that stretches or tears the tissues of the ligaments.

Common in athletes

Sprain: TreatmentRICE:

Rest (first 48 hours using crutches, splint)

Ice (first 48 hours for 20 minutes every 3-4 hours)

Compression (wrap it snuggly) Elevate (higher than heart)

Kyphosis: What is it? Deformity of the upper portion of

the spinal column that results in severe forward bending of the spine (hunchback)

Kyphosis

Kyphosis: Causes In children and

adolescents, this condition may result from poor posture, misshapen vertebrae or problems during fetal development.

In adults, this condition is often the result of another disease, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, trauma, or cancer

Kyphosis: Treatment

Exercise/Physical Therapy (if minor)

Bracing (moderate)

Surgery (severe)