Bone Disorders

Question 1

Define a fracture.

Answer 1

any break in a bone, and it can be classified according to the nature of the bone damage.

Question 2

How long does it take for a fracture to heal?

Answer 2

8 to 12 weeks. in complex or a fracture in an elderly patient it may take much longer.

Question 3

What are the steps for a fracture to heal?

Answer 3

1. Fracture hematoma: a blood clot forms, blood escapes from blood vessels in the bone and periosteum. (6-8 hours after injury).
2. there is an invasion of fibroblasts in the fracture hematoma that produces granulation tissue. (soft callus)
3. the osteogenic cells develop into osteoblasts and produce spongy bone trabeculae that join the living and dead bone. (Hard Callus)
4. remodeling happens: compact bone replaces the spongy bone and remodels the callus.

Question 4

Define osteoporosis and what it affects.

Answer 4

it is the decrease of bone mass and increase susceptibility to fracture. it affects the entire skeletal system, especially vertebral bodies, ribs, the head of the femur, humerus and radius.

Question 5

Describe the risk factors of osteoporosis.

Answer 5

1. white, postmenopausal women.
2. short, thin athletic women who typically have less bone mass and less adipose tissue: a good source of estrogen that inhibits bone resorption.
3. smoking decreases blood levels of estrogen
4. poor diet and/or eating disorders limit the intake of calcium, protein, and vitamins.
5. lack of exercise, excessive use of alcohol, use certain medication may increase bone loss,
6. family history of osteoporosis.

Question 6

Recommendations to reduce risk of osteoporosis.

Answer 6

1. adequate calcium intake and daily basis.
2. regular schedule of weight bearing exercise
3. bis-phosphonate drugs that destory osteoclasts which can increase bone mass by 5% to 10% and reduce fractures by up to 50%.

Question 7

What is Rickets?

Answer 7

childhood disorder caused by vitamin D deficiency so calcium and phosphorus cannot be adequately absorbed from food
- cartilage production but calcification is abnormal.

Question 8

Define osteomalacia.

Answer 8

adult condition caused by poor nutrition, which causes bones in the spine, pelvis, and legs to become soft, deformed and susceptible to fracture.

Question 9

Define osteomyelitis.

Answer 9

an inflammation of bone and red bone marrow, often caused by staph aureus bacteria that infect a wound site or surgical site.

Question 10

Define Paget’s Disease.

Answer 10

excessive and abnormal remodeling of bones, especially in the skull, pelvis, and extremities of males over 50.

Question 11

Define osteogenic sarcoma.

Answer 11

most common and deadliest form of bone cancer. occurs most often in the femur, tibia, humerus, during growth spurt teenage males.

Question 12

Define Achondroplastic dwarfism.

Answer 12

autosomal dominant genetic disorder in which the long bones quit growing during childhood even though the growth of other bones is unaffected.
- chondrocytes in the epiphyseal region fall to multiply and enlarge individual has normal-sized head and torso but significantly shorter limbs.