BONES: Pathology

Question 1

Ewing sarcoma

Answer 1

Malignant tumour in bone (children)

Treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Question 2

exostosis

Answer 2

Benign bony growth from surface of bone

Question 3

osteochondromas

Answer 3

Exostoses made of bone and cartilage, usually on the metaphysis of long bones near the epiphyseal plates

Question 4

bunion

Answer 4

Swelling of the metatarsophalangeal joint near the base of the foot

Question 5

simple (closed) fracture

Answer 5

Bone is broken but there is no open wound in the skin.

Question 6

compound (open) fracture

Answer 6

Bone is broken and a fragment protrudes through an open wound in the skin.

Question 7

crepitus

Answer 7

Crackling sound produced when ends of bone rub each other or rub against roughened cartilage.

Question 8

pathologic fracture

Answer 8

Bone breaks as a result of disease such as tumour, infection, or osteoporosis, which weakens the bone.

Question 9

Colles fracture

Answer 9

Bone in wrist breaks

Question 10

Compression fracture

Answer 10

Bone collapses or is depressed, usually in the vertebrae

Question 11

Comminuted fracture

Answer 11

Bone is splintered and crushed into several pieces.

Question 12

Greenstick fracture

Answer 12

Bone not broken all the way through.
Breaks on one surface and bends on the other.
More common in children because their bones are more spongy

Question 13

Treatment of fracture

Answer 13

Reduction, either closed or open, and a cast to immobilize the injured bone.
Reduction means to realign the two broken ends of the bone to their original position.

Question 14

Closed reduction

Answer 14

Reduce broken bone without surgical incision

Question 15

Open reduction

Answer 15

Reduce broken bone with surgical incision

Question 16

osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma)

Answer 16

Malignant tumour arising from osteoblasts.
The osteoblasts multiply and form large, bony tumours, usually at the ends of the long bones.
Spreads through the bloodstream, often afflicting the lungs.
Treatment by surgery and chemotherapy.
Usually found in children and adolescents.

Question 17

metastatic bone lesions

Answer 17

Malignant tumours from organs such as prostate gland, kidney, lung spread to the bones.

Question 18

osteomalacia

Answer 18

Softening of the bone so that they bend easily and deform, due to inadequate amounts of calcium in the bone.
Rickets.
Vitamin D deficiency preventing calcium and phosphorus from being absorbed in the bloodstream.
Treated by diet change and large daily doses of Vitamin D.

Question 19

osteomyelitis

Answer 19

Inflammation of bone and bone marrow due to infection.
Bacteria enter through a wound and spread to the bone.
Treated with antibiotics or surgical drainage of pus if the bone has abscessed.

Question 20

osteoporosis

Answer 20

Decrease in bone density (mass).
The trabeculae (interwoven bony fibres) become thin and widely separated.
Commonly found in older women due to menopausal estrogen deficiency.
Lack of estrogen promotes osteoclast activity so that more bone is resorbed than is deposited.
Weakened bones are subject to fracture and the vertebrae can collapse causing loss of height and kyphosis.
Treatment and prevention consist of a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, weight-bearing and resistance exercise, Hormone Replacement Therapy and medication.

Question 21

osteopenia

Answer 21

A condition in which bone density is lower than normal.

Can be a precursor to osteoporosis.

Question 22

talipes

Answer 22

Congenital abnormality of the hindfoot (talus).
talus = ankle, pes = foot
Also known as clubfoot.
The foot cannot be placed flat on the ground.
Treatment by orthopedic casts and/or surgery.

Question 23

impacted bone fracture

Answer 23

One fragment is driven firmly into the other.