Osteomalacia

Question 1

What is osteomalacia?

Answer 1

Reduction in the mineralised component of bone, due to inadequate calcium and phosphate

Question 2

What are the biochemical features of osteomalacia?

Answer 2

• Low serum 25-Oh Vit D
• Elevated PTH
• Elevated ALP
• Hypocalcemia

Question 3

What causes osteomalacia?

Answer 3

• Lack of sunlight
• Drugs
• Dietary lack of calcium/phosphate deficiency
• Renal or hepatic disease

Question 4

What are the symptoms of osteomalacia?

Answer 4

Weakness, myalgia, bone pain, tetany

Question 5

What are the signs of osteomalacia?

Answer 5

Bowing of legs, knock knees, craniotabes (softening of skull in infants)

Question 6

What are the X-ray appearance of osteomalacia?

Answer 6

• Cupped epiphyses
• Looser zones
• Rachitic rosary (prominent knobs of bone at costochondral joints)

Question 7

What is the treatment for osteomalacia?

Answer 7

Vitamin D, colecalciferol, ergocalciferol

Question 8

What is the difference between osteoporosis and osteomalacia?

Answer 8

Osteoporosis - brittle, porous bones due to decreased bone density and excessive bone resorption but the ratios of mineral to matrix remain normal

Osteomalacia - soft bones due to decreased mineralised portion of the bone.