Bones get sick too. What diseases is our skeleton exposed to?

Going back to the Greek root, the term “osteoporosis” could be translated as a disease of perforated bones. Formerly, it was also called bone thinning – because the bones affected by it resemble a scuffle. This is due to the gradual loss of bone mass and density, caused by a disturbance in the bone reconstruction processes. Osteoporosis is an insidious disease. It is asymptomatic for a long time, and finally it makes itself felt in a rather brutal way: fractures that occur even with minor injuries. A warning signal is also pain in the long bones under loads, e.g. carrying a heavy backpack. Osteoporosis affects mainly postmenopausal women and elderly men, but it is also diagnosed in young people. In the case of women, the main role in the development of the disease is played by hormonal changes related to the decrease in estrogen levels. In men, the causes are less clear, but may be of a similar nature – related to a drop in testosterone levels. Risk factors include alcohol abuse, some medications, especially corticosteroids, and hyperthyroidism.

Unlike osteoporosis, it is a disease that is more often diagnosed in men. It is associated with the disruption of bone reconstruction processes, causing their excessive growth and weakening at the same time. As a result, bones break and deform more easily. The affliction mainly affects the long bones: the femoral and tibia, but also the pelvis, skull and spine. Most people are asymptomatic at first. The specific symptoms depend on the focus of the disease. In the case of long bones, these are fractures, deformations, and joint damage. In the case of the pelvis – mainly pain. When the problem is in the spine, there may be a feeling of numbness and stiffness in addition to the pain. If the disease occurs in the skull, it can even lead to hearing loss. The causes of the disease are unknown, and it is suspected to be of genetic origin. It is significant that mainly men from countries of Western civilization: countries of Western Europe, the United States and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand, suffer from it.

Marbling of bones, Albers-Schoenberg disease, osteopetrosis – these three names refer to the same, rare inherited disease. It makes bones harden and thicken, but at the same time become more brittle. There are several forms of this condition that differ from each other in terms of inheritance. One of them is deadly in infancy. The rest of them make themselves felt in late childhood or adolescence. In the mildest version, marbling may not even give symptoms – in such a situation changes are detected by chance, e.g. during the analysis of x-rays. The most severe symptoms are associated with frequent fractures. They result from the dysfunction of osteoclasts. In a healthy organism, they dissolve and absorb bone tissue, enabling its reconstruction and strengthening of the skeleton by osteoblasts. In people suffering from osteopetosis, the balance between the amount and activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts is disturbed, and as a result, the bones become calcified. Another severe consequence of osteopetrosis are deformities of the spine, e.g. of a scoliotic nature.

It is also a disease with many names. It is also known as endosseous chondrosis or Ollier disease. It is a form of benign neoplasm associated with the development of tumors in the bones near the cartilage tissue, known as chondroids. They usually occur in the hands or feet, but can also appear in the skull, ribs, and vertebrae. Enchondromatosis is a genetic disease. It can be detected at birth, but is usually asymptomatic before the age of five. In the following years, however, it visibly affects the child’s development: it limits the growth of muscle mass and is the cause of short stature. In some cases, the chondromas can become cancerous and become life-threatening. This is especially true when they are located within the skull – they can then turn into a malignant chondrosarcoma. Paget’s disease does not affect life expectancy or mental development in most cases. Most often, it does not significantly reduce physical fitness or quality of life.

This is a group of diseases (also known as osteonecrosis) that result from the blood supply to the bones being stopped. This causes the death – that is, necrosis – of the bone tissue. Dead tissue is absorbed and replaced by new, but weaker and more susceptible to damage and deformation. Osteonecrosis can develop in any bone, but most often it is located in the femurs, brachial and shoulder bones, knees or ankles. The disease most often occurs in people in the fourth, fifth and sixth decade of life. A number of factors can contribute to its development: injuries, excessive pressure on the bones, such as those associated with overweight, alcohol or drug abuse, and other diseases that reduce blood flow to the bones. Treatment of osteonecrosis depends on the individual case, but most often requires surgical intervention. Physiotherapy is essential after the procedure.

It is a disorder of bone metabolism, i.e. the process of bone tissue replacement. It can be caused by a deficiency of calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D, which impairs the growth and mineralization of new tissues. As a result, bones lose density and become prone to fractures. Osteomalacia in early childhood is known as rickets – a disease that causes developmental disorders, including spine defects, chest deformities, knee valgus and flat feet. In adults, it causes less damage, but also leads to a number of unpleasant consequences. In addition to brittle bones, it also causes deformation of the bones, muscle weakness, increased pressure on the vertebrae, osteoarticular pain and ducks – a disorder resulting from weakening of the pelvic and thigh muscles. The first symptom of osteomalacia in adults is pain in the loins, which then spreads to the femurs, as well as the ribs and shoulder bones. As the disease progresses, difficulties with climbing stairs and getting up from a squat appear. The occurrence of osteomalacia is favored by kidney disease, celiac disease, malnutrition, and most of all a significant deficiency of vitamin D.

A benign lesion that replaces normal bone and marrow with fibrous tissue. The presence of the latter causes bone weakness and increases its susceptibility to deformation and fractures. In most cases, dysplasia develops at a single site in a given bone. However, it can cover a larger number of bones and appear in several foci. In the latter variant, the disease usually develops in children before the age of ten. Fibrous dysplasia most often occurs in the pelvis, long-limb bones, skull or chest. Symptoms are often not specific and may indicate other bone conditions as well. In addition to pain, swelling may occur, and in the long term, bone deformation, e.g. rounding of the femurs and brace of the legs, may occur. The cause of dysplasia is a genetic mutation, but it is not hereditary. Treatment is usually surgical.