Osteomalacia Flashcards
1
Q
What is osteomalacia?
A
Poor bone mineralisation leads to soft bones due to a lack of calcium, phosphate or vit D
2
Q
What can poor bone mineralization lead to in children?
A
Rickets
3
Q
What can poor bone mineralization lead to in adults?
A
Osteomalacia
4
Q
What can cause osteomalacia? (3)
A
Dietary deficiency (esp in pigmented kids in northern regions) Age-related deficiency Secondary rickets/ osteomalacia (due to other conditions)
5
Q
What are the clinical presentations of osteomalacia? (4)
A
Bone pain
Fracture (esp NoF)
Proximal muscle weakness (waddling gait)
Muscle spasm + numbness (hypocalcemia)
6
Q
How would you investigate osteomalacia? (2)
A
Bloods: low vit D, Ca2+, phosphate, raised ALP
X-ray: evidence of low BMD (cortical bone lucency, pseudofracture)
7
Q
How would you treat osteomalacia? (3)
A
Dietary def = vit D + caldium D3
Age-related = vit D
Secondary rickets = treat underlying cause, vit D supplements
