Osteomalacia

Question 1

What is osteomalacia?

Answer 1

• Softening of the bone WITHOUT loss of bone matrix

- called Rickets in children

Question 2

What is the etiology of osteomalacia?

Answer 2

• Decreased intestinal Ca+ absorption
• Increased renal phosphorus losses
• often SECONDARY to other medical conditions, nutritional intake, or aging
• often lacking Vit D

Question 3

What are signs and symptoms of osteomalacia?

Answer 3

1. Diffuse, generalized aching
2. Fatigue
3. Bone Pain- often described as aching
4. Tenderness around joints in spine, ribs, pelvis
5. Muscle weakness
6. Deformities

Question 4

What is the treatment for osteomalacia?

Answer 4

1. Correct cause
2. increase nutritional needs
3. improve malabsorption
4. phosphate supplements

Question 5

What is the prognosis for osteomalacia?

Answer 5

1. While the conditions itself DOES NOT RESULT IN MORBIDITY, complications from fractures or related occurrences may contribute to decreased life span

Question 6

What is paget’s disease?

Answer 6

a chronic disorder of the adult skeleton in which localized areas of hyperactive bone are replaced by a softened and enlarged osseous structure

Question 7

What is the etiology of Paget’s disease?

Answer 7

• unknown, but a familial incidence pattern has been noticed. However, a specific genetic pattern is unclear.
• possibly a viral infection is involved (may trigger genetic predisposition

Question 8

What are the S/S of Paget’s Disease?

Answer 8

1. often asymptomatic
2. pain- deep, aching, increased at night
3. stiffness
4. fatigability
5. deformity
6. headache

Question 9

What are the most common sites of Paget’s Disease?

Answer 9

1. pelvis
2. skull
3. spine
4. leg

Question 10

How is Paget’s diagnosed?

Answer 10

1. xray
2. lab studies for elevated serum alakaline phosphatase (only in active stage)
3. bone scans

Question 11

What is the prognosis for Paget’s?

Answer 11

1. the disease is NOT TERMINAL

2. given severity and related complications, complications may be the cause of decreased lifespan

Question 12

If you have Paget’s you are a greater risk of…

Answer 12

1. increase risk of malignancy
2. increase risk of bleeding b/c increase of blood vessels on the bones
3. arthritis will b/c mis-shapen bone- not normal progression of arthritis

Question 13

What is the treatment for Paget’s?

Answer 13

1. NSAID’s for pain
2. Orthoses (and assistive devices)
3. chemotherapy
4. risedronate