Musculoskeletal: Pathology - Bone remodelling, growth and development Flashcards
Four cell types found in bone and their function
- Osteoprogenitor cells: pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells that differentiate into osteoblasts
- Osteoblasts: synthesise, transport and arrange matrix proteins, and initiate process of mineralisation; transform into osteocytes if surrounded by newly deposited matrix
- Osteocytes: control calcium and phosphate in microenvironment, also responsible for mechanotransduction (translate mechanical forces into biologic activity)
- Osteoclasts: bind to bone via integrins and form resorption (functions similarly to lysosome)
What are the progenitor cells for osteoclasts?
Same haematopoietic progenitors as monocytes/macrophages
Three factors which stimulate differentiation and maturation of osteoclasts
M-CSF
IL-1
TNF
What is the lifespan of osteoclasts?
~2 weeks
Which bones develop via intramembranous ossification?
Flat bones of face
Most bones of skull
Clavicles
What is endochondral ossification?
Most common method of bone development, involves cartilage model which is then replaced by bone
What is the underlying defect in osteogenesis imperfecta? What is the typical inheritance pattern?
Deficiency in type I collage
Autosomal dominant inheritance
What pathology is caused by osteogenesis imperfecta?
Osteoporosis with marked cortical thinning and attenuation of trabeculae
Which is the osteogenesis imperfecta subtypes are compatible with life and which result in death (usually during the perinatal period)?
Types I, III and IV compatible with survival
- Type III more severe disease with growth retardation, multiple fractures, and progressive kyphoscoliosis
Type II lethal in perinatal period due to excessive fragility
What is osteoporosis? How is it classified?
Disorder characterised by porous bones with decreased bone mass
May be localised (e.g. disuse osteoporosis) or generalised (e.g. metabolic bone disease)
Generalised may be primary (postmenopausal, senile, or idiopathic) or secondary
Give five examples of broad causes of secondary osteoporosis
- Endocrine disease (e.g. hyperparathyroidism)
- Neoplasia (e.g. multiple myeloma)
- Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. malabsorption)
- Drugs (e.g. corticosteroids)
- Miscellaneous (e.g. osteogenesis imperfecta)
What are the three determinants of peak bone mass?
Genetics
Physical activity
Nutrition
What are four hormonal (menopausal) and four age-related factors contributing to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis?
Hormonal:
- Decreased oestrogen
- Increased IL-1, IL-6, TNF
- Increased RANK, RANKL expression
- Increased osteoclast activity
Age-related:
- Decreased osteoprogenitor replication/differentiation
- Decreased osteoblast activity
- Decreased matrix-bound growth factor activity
- Decreased physical activity
Describe the typical clinical presentation of osteoporosis
Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with progressive lumbar lordosis and kyphoscoliosis
Femoral neck and pelvic fractures (and their complications)
How is osteoporosis usually diagnosed? What is the downside of using plain radiography?
With DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry)
Plain radiographs are unable to reliably detect osteoporosis until 30-40% bone loss
What are the three phases seen in Paget disease?
- Osteolytic stage
- Mixed osteoclastic-osteoblastic stage (ends with predominance of osteoblastic activity)
- Burnt-out quiescent osteosclerotic stage
What is the pathology in Paget disease? What is the hallmark morphological feature?
There is gain in bone mass, but new bone is disordered and architecturally unsound
Hallmark morphological feature is mosaic pattern (haphazardly oriented units of lamellar bone)
Describe the clinical presentation of Paget disease
Usually late adulthoods (>70yo)
Most cases are mild and asymptomatic
May present with pain due to microfractures or bony growth
Monostotic in 15%, polystotic in the remaining with axial skeleton or femur most commonly involved (in 80%)
What is one of the important complications of Paget disease?
Risk of benign and malignant bony tumour transformation
Describe the three stages of fracture healing
- Procallus formation:
- Immediately after fracture, rupture of blood vessels results in haematoma formation
- Fibrin mesh of haematoma seals off fracture site and creates framework for inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and new capillaries
- Release of cytokines (including PDGF, TGF-B, FGF, interleukins) from platelets and inflammatory cells results in activation of osteoprogenitor cells, and stimulated of osteoclastic/osteoblastic activity
- By end of first week, haematoma is organised, adjacent tissue is being modulated for fracture matrix production, and fractured ends of bone are being remodelled (PROCALLUS is formed) - Fibrocartilaginous callus formation:
- Activated osteoprogenitor cells deposit trabeculae of woven bone
- In some cases, activated mesenchymal cells around the fracture line differentiate into chondroblasts and produce fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage
- Repair tissue reaches maximal girth at the end of the second or third week, resulting in stabilisation of fracture site - Bony callus formation:
- Cartilage along fracture line undergoes endochondral ossification and fractured ends become bridged by bony callus
- Bony callus becomes stiffer and stronger as it is mineralised
- Matures and is subject to weight-bearing forces: portions not physically stressed are resorbed, and callus decreases in size until shape and outline of fractured bone is re-established
- Medullary cavity is also restored
Five reasons why fracture healing may be imperfect
- Displaced/comminuted fractures
- Inadequate immobilisation -> delayed union, nonunion
- Infection
- Foreign body
- Systemic illness (e.g. osteoporosis, osteomalacia)
Where in the bone can avascular necrosis occur, and how does this change the presentation?
Can occur in medullary cavity of metaphysis/diaphysis, or in subchondral regions of epiphysis
In medullary cavity:
- Involves cancellous bone and marrow (cortex not affected due to dual blood supply)
- Asymptomatic unless large
- Stable
Subchondral:
- Triangular/wedge-shaped infarct (with subchondral plate at base)
- Articular cartilage remains viable (obtains nutrition from synovial fluid)
- Produces chronic pain (initially with activity only, then constant)
- May collapse and cause severe secondary osteoarthritis
Describe seven mechanisms of avascular necrosis, giving specific examples where relevant
- Vascular interruption (e.g. fracture)
- Thromboembolism (e.g. decompression sickness)
- Vessel injury (e.g. vasculitis, radiation therapy, connective tissue disorders)
- Vascular compression (e.g. corticosteroids, tumours)
- Venous hypertension
- Infection
- Metabolic (e.g. chronic pancreatitis)
What are the three methods of spread of bacteria in pyogenic osteomyelitis? Which of these is most common in children?
- Haematogenous
- Extension from contiguous site
- Direct implantation
What bones are most commonly affected in pyogenic osteomyelitis in children?
Long bones
What are the most common settings in which adults develop pyogenic osteomyelitis?
As complication of open fracture, surgical procedures, and diabetic foot infection
What is the most common pathogen that causes pyogenic osteomyelitis and how frequently is it isolated?
Staphylococcus aureus (80-90%)
What virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus makes it adept at infecting bone?
Expresses receptors for bone matrix components which increases adherence
What organisms are more frequently isolated in osteomyelitis in the setting of genitourinary infection and IVDU?
E. coli
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Klebsiella
What organisms are found in the setting of osteomyelitis secondary to direct spread/inoculation (i.e. in open fractures or surgery)?
Usually mixed bacterial infection
Which two organisms commonly cause osteomyelitis in neonates?
Haemophilus influenzae
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B strep)
What causative organism may be found in osteomyelitis in the setting of sickle cell?
Salmonella
In what % of cases of pyogenic osteomyelitis is no organism isolated?
50%
Five complications of pyogenic osteomyelitis
- Sequestrum: necrosis of bone segment
- Draining sinus: occurs in setting of rupture of periosteum and formation of soft tissue abscess
- Septic arthritis: in infants (uncommon complication in adults)
- Involucrum: subperiosteal new bone that encloses infected bone
- Chronic osteomyelitis: may in turn leads to pathologic fracture, secondary amyloidosis, endocarditis, sepsis, sarcoma, SCC of sinus tract
Describe two morphological variants of osteomyelitis
- Brodie abscess: small intraosseous abscess that frequently involves the cortex and is walled off by reactive bone
- Sclerosing osteomyelitis of Garré: sclerotic focus of continuing new bone formation, typically in jaw
Describe the six classes of primary bone tumours, including their relative % incidence
- Haematopoietic (40%)
- Chondrogenic (20%)
- Osteogenic (19%)
- Fibrogenic
- Unknown origin (10%)
- Neuroectodermal
Two malignant haematopoietic primary bone tumours
- Myeloma
- Malignant lymphoma
Four benign chondrogenic primary bone tumours
- Osteochondroma
- Chondroma (hyaline cartilage tumour)
- Chondroblastoma (rare)
- Chrondromyxoid fibroma
One malignant chondrogenic primary bone tumour
- Chondrosarcoma
Two benign osteogenic primary bone tumours
- Osteoid osteoma
- Osteoblastoma
One malignant osteogenic primary bone tumour
- Osteosarcoma
One benign and one malignant fibrogenic primary bone tumour
Benign: fibroma
Malignant: fibrosarcoma