Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia

Introduction : Overview of Osteomalacia Osteomalacia is a medical condition wherein the patient is suffering from an abnormal absorption of minerals of the bones . This disease is the counterpart of rickets . Rickets occurs in infants and children alone , while osteomalacia , on the other hand , is seen only in adults Osteomalacia , in the most literal sense of the word , means soft bones The bones , if broken down to its minute composition level , are composed of a protein matrix , which is called the osteoid . This particular protein matrix present in one 's bones

should mineralize appropriately as it should . When the remodeled bones of an adult fail to mineralize osteomalacia would occur (Lorimer 2002

The difference between osteomalacia and rickets is on the bone 's growth plate . Children have growth plates from which their bones takes form and shape . With them , this is the one that is affected . Adults , on the other hand , do not have growth plates any longer . It is their adjusted bone structures that are hit by this disease , and as their bones fail to absorb the all necessary mineralize to make it stronger and healthier it becomes softer as the sickness progresses (Lorimer 2002

Symptoms

A person who has osteomalacia experiences bone pains , muscular weakness and frequent bone fractures even with minimal pressure or trauma . They could even have a waddling gait , which is characterized by the pelvic bones dropping on the side of one 's swinging leg . Internally , people suffering from osteomalacia have a reduced bone mass (McPhee 2003

Bone pains refer to the aching of a single or multiple bone segments Bone pains usually arise from a fracture , but in this case , it is because the bones are relatively delicate . Being so , it is more prone to breaks and injuries . Experiencing muscular weakness is but natural to a person with bone defects . It is because there won 't be any firm bones to support the muscles , and that being the case , muscles become more susceptible to pain and pressure (McPhee 2003

A person suffering from osteomalacia also has very low calcium content in the body . When that happens , additional symptoms could arise including numbness around the mouth and the extremities . The person could also feel spasms in the hands and feet , as well as abnormal heart rhythms (McPhee 2003

Causes

The most common cause of osteomalacia is improper nutrition . People who have acquired the disease lack the essential Vitamin D in their bodies Vitamin D becomes deficient due to the irregular synthesis of such in the skin . It can also be due to a low nutritional and faulty diet Osteomalacia can also be caused by the body 's inability to absorb Vitamin D , which is , in part , due to an entirely another form of disease present in the body . An example of the diseases that could defer the body 's absorption of Vitamin D is the coeliac disease as well as biliary cirrhosis . Consequently , medical procedures such as bowel resection and gastric surgery can also add to a person 's inability to absorb Vitamin D . If a person has undergone this procedure for an entirely different cause , they can be more susceptible to osteomalacia . Aside from these there are also renal causes of this disease . Osteomalacia can arise from a person who has renal glomerular failure or a renal tubular failure (Lorimer 2002

Diagnosis

Osteomalacia can be diagnosed using histological examinations . A bone biopsy test on the rib or the iliac crest areas are where it is usually performed . The test is done by surgically removing a piece of the bone or the bone marrow from the patient . The sample taken is further tested so as to determine the disease 's presence or its level of severity in the patient . This test could indicate the patient 's Vitamin D level it follows that the lower the Vitamin D value one has the worst the case can become . Serum calcium and phosphate levels are also tested in for physicians to accurately determine if the sickness is an osteomalacia case or otherwise . To obtain a sample of calcium and phosphate from the body , blood is usually drawn from the patient and is further tested (Greenspan 2004

Another way of diagnosing osteomalacia is through a bone x-ray test Through this procedure , the doctor would be able to see the actual deformations which exist in the bones . Fractures and tumors that are identifiable with osteomalacia can be then easily detected . A bone x-ray procedure is usually done inside the radiology laboratory of a hospital and is performed by an x-ray technician (Greenspan 2004

Bone density scans are also performed to diagnose osteomalacia this test will measure the patient 's hips , spine , and forearm 's bone mass The density value obtained from a person who is assumed to be suffering from osteomalacia is then compared to a person who is at peak condition and has a perfect bone mass density . This is a noninvasive procedure because there won 't be any instrument to be affected inside the person nor anything is drawn from him . A bone density test is performed by subjecting the patient to a minimal amount of radiation the radiation exposure is just similar to that gained in a cross-country airplane trip (Ahlgrimm 2003

Treatment

In to treat osteomalacia effectively , its causes must be determined firsthand , only then that effective healing could follow . If it is found out that the cause of osteomalacia is nutritional , then it can be treated with oral supplements of Vitamin D analogs , like calcitriol . Dietary calcium and phosphate should also be taken in so as to restore the patient 's calcium and phosphorus levels back to it normal values . But if osteomalacia is caused by the body 's failure to absorb these substances , the underlying causes of it should be treated first Several reasons why the body failed to absorb nutrients in the body has been discussed in previous paragraphs . These have to be individually treated , and is mostly not related to osteomalacia at all . It is possible that osteomalacia could become a complication of another disease (Neal 2001

The medicine mostly used in treating osteomalacia is ergocalciferol which is a form of dietary calcium . A 30 microgram tablet of ergocalciferol has to be taken thrice daily so as to promote healing in an estimated span of three months . In most cases of nutrient malabsorption , a 600 ,000 IU of calciferol in oil can be given IM yearly Water soluble hydroxylated metabolites can also be administered because it is absorbed by the small intestine well (Campbell 1993

Prevention

Osteomalacia can be prevented best by proper diet and nutrition . The required daily dosage of Vitamin D , calcium , and phosphate by the body should be properly achieved . People are advised to consume calcium and phosphate-rich foods like milk and dairy products . People who are lactose-intolerant should properly consult a physician so that proper alternatives can be suggested (Perkin 1990

Exercising under the morning sunlight is also advisable so the body can gain natural Vitamin D from the sun . The morning sunlight rays are good for the skin and the body , as it has minimal ultra-violet rays that could otherwise be harmful (Perkin 1990

Conclusion

Osteomalacia is a bone condition affecting adults . It is a disease which is treatable and preventable , so proper knowledge about it should be rightfully disseminated . Anyone who is showing the symptoms of this disease should not take it for granted it is but proper to consult with a physician right away . Patients should submit themselves for proper diagnosis and treatment of the disease . Osteomalacia can be caused by a lot of reasons , and it could either be internal and external factors . It is required for everyone to recognize these causes so that proper prevention of the disease can be achieved

Osteomalacia is not an infectious disease , nor is it hereditary Osteomalacia patients are not in a critical condition in most cases although they could feel a lot of discomfort in their bodies and day to day activities . And this is mostly on their bones and their muscles Neglecting the disease altogether and not submitting oneself to the proper treatment procedures may lead to an even more severe case wherein the process of healing may become long and tedious , and even painful . Treat osteomalacia in its early stages . That is the best and most effective strategy against this type of disease Works Cited

Ahlgrimm , M , Kells , J . M . The Hrt Solution : A Comprehensive Personalized Program of Natural Hormone Replacement to Relieve Menopausal Symptoms and Restore Vitality , Sexuality , and health . for life . 2nd Ed . New York : Avery , 2003 . 116-117

Beers , M . H . Ed , Berkow R . Ed . The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . 17th Ed . New Jersey : John Wiley Sons . 1999

Campbell , G . A , Comptson , J . E , Crisp , A . J . The Management of Common Metabolic Bone Diss . New York : Cambridge University Press , 1993 . 77

Greenspan , F .S , Gardner , D . G . Basic Clinical Endocrinology . New York : McGraw-Hill Professional , 2004 , 348-349

Kasper , D . L Ed . Harrison`s Principles of Internal Medicine 16th Ed . New York

McGraw-Hill Professional . 2005

Lorimer , D . L , French , G . J , O 'Donnell M . Neale 's Diss of the Foot : Diagnosis and Management . Philadelpia : Elsevier Health Sciences , 2002 , 609-610

McPhee , S . J , Lingappa , V . R , Ganong , W . F . Pathophysiology of Disease : An

Introduction to Clinical Medicine . New York : McGraw-Hill Professional 2003

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Neal , J . M . How the Endocrine System Works . United Kingdom Blackwell Publishing , 2001 , 64-65

Perkin , J . Food Allergies and Adverse Reactions Massachusetts : Jones and Bartlett Publishers , 1990 , 218-219

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