Bone Abnormalities Flashcards
What are the functions of bone as a metabolic tissue?
- Acts as mineral buffer
- Needs to be able to repair damage and maintain integrity
- Quality of bone
- Coordination between bone cells
What are the protective and load-bearing functions of bone?
- Cortical versus trabecular bone = weight versus strength
2. Rigidity:resilience = hydroxyapatite:collagen
Why can fractures occur?
- Too much force
2. Problem with the bone
What is osteogenesis imperfecta?
Group of disorders characterised by defective production (processing) of type I collagen due to genetic mutations in collagen genes leading to loss of bone flexibility making bones brittle which is why it is called BRITTLE BONE DISEASE
What is Pagets disease?
When there is rapid turnover of overactive osteoclasts so there is poor quality woven bone
What blood tests can be done to assess bone structure?
Routine: ALP + albumin
Others: Ca2+, phosphate, vitamin D + PTH
What imaging can be done to assess bone structure?
- Plain X-ray
- Radionuclide scans: radioactive material e.g. technetium (Tc) is put into body to pick up an overactive cell type
- CT/MRI/US
How should we assess bone structure?
- Blood tests
- Imaging
- Bone biopsy (histology)
- Bone mineral density (BMD) via a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan
What problems with the bone can cause fractures?
- Quantity of bone:
- Too little bone (osteoporosis)
- Too much bone (osteopetrosis) - Quality of bone:
- Defective/loss of mineralisation (rickets, osteomalacia or hyperparathyroidism)
- Change in structure (osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget’s disease or tumours)
What is osteoporosis?
A complex skeletal disease, most common in post-menopausal older women, characterised by low bone density and micro-architectural defects in bone tissue resulting in increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture esp. of the neck of femur, vertebral bodies and wrist
What does FOOSH stand for?
Fall On OutStretched Hand
Why do some older adults demonstrate a hunched-over appearance?
The natural lumbar kyphosis can become exaggerated as the intervertebral (IV) discs become compressed and smaller (can impinge nerves too)
What are the wider implications of osteoporosis?
Future fractures Pain QoL Loss of confidence Long-term admission Permanent disability Mortality
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
Old age Sex (females > males) Ethnicity Low BMI Family Hx Fragility fracture Post-menopausal Smoking Excessive alcohol use Long-term steroid use Immobility Vit D + Ca2+ deficiency Etc...
When are patients most commonly assessed for osteoporosis?
If an elderly patient has had a fall and a fracture
What is the pathophysiology of osteoporosis?
- Genetic factors, nutrition and physical activity make up an individuals peak bone mass
- During aging, there is:
- Decreased replicative activity of osteoprogenitor cells
- Decreased synthetic activity of osteoblasts
- Decreased biologic activity of matrix-bound GFs
- Reduced physical activity - During menopause there is:
- Decreased serum oestrogen
- Increased IL-1, IL-6 + TNF levels
- Increased expression of RANK + RANKL
- Increased osteoclast activity - Balance disruption between bone formation and resorption due to decreased osteoblast activity and increased osteoclast activity cause a net bone loss = osteoporosis
When does peak bone mass deteriorate?
Men: achieve a higher peak bone mass that plateaus and gradually declines at around 50 years old
Women: peak bone mass deteriorates rapidly post-menopausal