Osteomalacia Flashcards
What is Osteomalacia?
Softening of the bones secondary to low vitamin D levels
What are the main causes of Osteomalacia?
Vitamin D deficiency Chronic kidney disease Drug induced Inherited Liver disease
What can cause a vitamin D deficiency which will result in Osteomalacia?
Malabsorption
Lack of sunlight
Diet
Which drugs can cause osteomalacia?
Anticonvulsants- Phenytoin
Which inherited conditions can cause osteomalacia?
Hypophosphatemic rickets (vitamin-D resistant)
What liver disease can cause osteomalacia?
Cirrhosis
How can oseomalacia present?
bone pain
bone/muscle tenderness
fractures: especially femoral neck
proximal myopathy: may lead to a waddling gait
Where is a common place for fractures to occur in someone with osteomalacia?
Femoral neck
How would you diagnose Osteomalacia?
Bloods
X-ray
What would be the results of someone’s bloods who has osteomalacia?
Low vitamin D levels
Low calcium, phosphate (in around 30%)
Raised alkaline phosphatase (in 95-100% of patients)
What would you see on an x-ray of someone with Osteomalacia?
Translucent bands (Looser’s zones or pseudofractures)
Why are people with darker skin more vulnerable to osteomalacia?
Melanin lowers the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight.
What is the management of osteomalacia?
vitamin D supplmentation
What might also be required in the management of osteomalacia?
Calcium supplementation if dietary calcium is inadequate
