Injuries and Disease to the Skeletal System

Osteoporosis

• Bone mineral density decreases
• Age, hormone status and diet all play a vital role

Rickets/ Osteomalacia

• Caused from a severe deficiency of calcium, vitamin D and phosphate
• Bones soften and become weak losing their normal shape

• Transverse fracture
• Where the break is at a right angle to the long plane of the bone
• Strong force applied perpendicular to the long axis of a bone
• Stress fracture where many microscopic breaks form in the bone from repetitive stress, such as running

• Oblique fracture
• Broken at an angle across the bone
• Result of a sharp angled blow to the bone

• Spiral fracture
• Caused by a twisting force
• Creates an oblique fracture around and through the bone

Clinical Forms of Arthritis

Bone Cancer

• Tumors can arise in bones in a similar fashion as other solid organ cancers
• Sign of an advanced cancer located elsewhere in the body that has spread (metastasized) to the bones
• lung, breast and prostate
• Primary bone cancers include osteosarcoma and Ewing's

• Osteoarthritis
• Most common chronic arthritis
• Probably related to normal aging processes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• An autoimmune disease – the immune system attacks the joints
• Symptoms begin with bilateral inflammation of certain joints
• Often leads to deformities
• Gouty Arthritis
• Inflammation of joints is caused by a deposition of urate crystals from the blood
• Can usually be controlled with diet

Inflammatory Conditions Associated with Synovial Joints

• Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa usually caused by a blow or friction
• Tendonitis – inflammation of tendon sheaths
• Arthritis – inflammatory or degenerative diseases of joints
• Over 100 different types
• The most widespread crippling disease in the United States

Fractures

• Comminuted fracture
• Splinters and contains small bone particles
• Can shatter into more than two pieces
• Caused by severe force, such as in a car accident

• Greenstick fracture
• Usually occurs in children
• Still soft bones splinter without breaking in two
• Sudden force causes only the outer side of the bent bone to break

Osteogenesis imperfecta

• Spectrum of bone disorders ranging from mild to severe and life threatening
• Prone to fractures with minor trauma
• Severe form usually results in death in-utero

Osteopetrosis

• Rare bone disorder where the bones literally become petrified and are literally dissolve and break

Spina Bifida

Leukemia

• Birth related condition results in incomplete closure of the vertebra around the spinal canal

• White blood cells are produced in part by the bone marrow
• Early warning signs include:
• Bone pain
• Excess fatigue
• Easy bruising
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bleeding gums

Injuries and Disease to the Skeletal System