Disease Research

OSTEOMALACIA AND RICKETS
 Caused by defective calcification of bone

 Causes bone to soften and become weak.
 Can cause fractures and skeletal deformities in skull, pelvis and
spine.
 Rickets occurs in children which is more serious as bones are still in
development.
 Can lead to bow-legs or knock-knees.
 Osteomalacia occurs in adults which is less serious.
Results from:
 Calcium and vitamin D deficiency in diet
 Vitamin D is required for absorption of calcium in the gut.
 Children spending too much time indoors.
 Increased use of sunblock.
Signs and symptoms:

 Pain felt in bones and joints.
 Muscle pain an weakness
 Bones that break more easily, particularly hips, lower back and feet.
 Difficulty walking.
Treatment:
 Eating more foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D.
 Taking daily calcium and vitamin D supplements.
 Increase amount of time spent outside.
OSTEOPOROSIS
 Rapid loss of bone density
 When formation of new bone doesn’t keep up with loss
of old bone.
 Weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to
break.
 Even mild stresses can cause fracture.
 Risk increases for women past menopause.
Risk factors:
 Race
 Lifestyle (e.g. low calcium intake, drug use, smoking)
 Family history
 Age and sex (post menopausal women have increased risk)
Treatment:
 Includes use of drugs to increase mineral density in bone or to enhance calcium
uptake.
 Regular load bearing exercises through physiotherapy.
 Surgery to place metal rods in the long bones.
BRITTLE BONE DISEASE

 Osteogenesis imperfecta
 Inherited condition, incurable
 Causes imbalance in the organic and inorganic components.
 Leads to increased risk of fracture, poor muscle tone, loose
joints.
 Likely caused by a defect in the gene producing collagen.
Treatment:
 Drugs can increase bone mass and reduce tendency to fracture.
 Painkillers
 Physiotherapy can be done to strengthen muscle and improve mobility.
 Surgery can be done to place metal rods inside long bones.
POSTURAL DEFORMITIES
SCOLIOSIS
 Deformation of the spine caused by a gene mutation.
 Spine twists and curves to the side.
 Can affect people of many ages, most often starts from children aged 10 to 15.
 Scoliosis may also cause back pain.
 Condition can be caused by muscle problems.
Treatment:
 Minor cases treated using physiotherapy, to strengthen spinal muscles.
 Patients may also wear a back brace to stop the curve getting worse.
 Severe cases may need surgery to straighten spine.
 Adults may need painkillers, spinal injections or surgery to relieve pain.
FLAT FOOT
 No arch formation in the foot
 Foot is flat on the floor which can cause strain on
muscles and ligaments.
 Causes over-pronation.
Treatment:
 Specialised footwear.
 Surgery
OSTEOARTHRITIS
 Degenerative disease which results in breakdown of
articulation cartilage in a joint.
 Glycoproteins and collagen in articulate cartilage is
degraded faster than replaced.
 Joints become inflamed and swell.
 Causes joints to become painful and stiff.
 Ligaments could thicken
 May cause spurs of bone to grow which is painful and
limits movement.
Causes of osteoarthritis/ increased risk:

 Repeated vigorous bending of a join (e.g. sporting activity)
 Damage to a joint/ joint injury.
 Being overweight, puts excess strain on joints particularly hips and knees.
 Age, risk of developing disease increases as you get older.
 Osteoarthritis is more common in women than men..
Treatment:
 Use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs e.g. aspirin.
 Regular exercise/ losing weight.
 Special devices to reduce strain on joints during everyday activities.
 Joint may be replaced by surgery.
ADVANTAGES OF HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT DISADVANTAGES
Relief from long term pain Surgical risks, increased risk of blood clot and infection
Reduced drug intake Long recovery period
Increase mobility Increased risk of hip dislocation
Restore normal activity and quality of life Replacement join could fail after 15-20 years and there are increase risks with
a second replacement
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
 Auto-immune disease
 Attacks bone and cartilage at joints leading to tissue damage and swelling.
 Immune system recognises proteins in the tissues of the joint as being antigenic.
 Results in severe inflammation of the joint together with increase blood flow.
 The affected join becomes swelled, painful and movement is severely restricted.
 Result of genetic and environmental factors.
Treatments:
 The injection of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs into joint
 Physiotherapy maintains muscle strength
 Surgery, replaces joint
FRACTURES
Two types of fractures:

1. Traumatic fracture: when fracture is caused by high impact, when the physical
force on a bone is greater than the strength of the bone.
2. Pathological fracture: occurs when medical condition weakens bones e.g.
osteoporosis, bone cancer or osteogenesis imperfecta.
Type of fracture Description X-ray
Displaced  Bone breaks into two or more pieces and move out
of alignment
Non-displaced  Bone cracks either part or all of the way through.

 Moves and maintains proper alignment.
Comminuted  Breaking of bone into several small pieces.
 Result of high velocity injuries.
Simple/ closed  When overlying skin is not broken and bone is not
exposed to air.
Compound/ open
 Fracture in which there is an open wound or break
in skin near site of broken bone.
 May damage other tissues and risk infection.
Treatment:
 Realignment of the bone and subsequent immobilisation using a splint or cast to
allow bone to heal.
 Osteoblasts produce new bony tissue to support the broken bone and osteoclasts
then remodel the bone.
 Surgery can be used to insert screws or metal plates to support the bones.
 This is important in cases such as fracture of hip, where lack of mobility during
healing process could lead to complications such as pressure sores, deep vein,
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
 Small bones (i.e. in the finger) are buddy wrapped.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Jones, M. and Jones, G. 1997 Advanced Biology. The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge, CB2
8RU, UK, Cambridge University Press.
 Izen, M. 2016 WJEC Biology for A2. 2nd ed. P.O. Box 1160, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
GL50 0RW, Illuminate Publishing Ltd.
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-
20351968
 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rickets-and-osteomalacia/
 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/osteogenesis-imperfecta
 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173312
 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/

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OSTEOMALACIA AND RICKETS

 Caused by defective calcification of bone

Signs and symptoms:

BRITTLE BONE DISEASE

Causes of osteoarthritis/ increased risk:

ADVANTAGES OF HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT DISADVANTAGES

Reduced drug intake Long recovery period

Increase mobility Increased risk of hip dislocation

Two types of fractures:

Type of fracture Description X-ray

Non-displaced  Bone cracks either part or all of the way through.

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