Osteogenesis: Your Guide to Deal With Brittle Bones

There are around eight conditions related to the bones which come under the umbrella of the term osteogenesis. All of these conditions make the bones soft or brittle causing them to fracture easily. Depending upon the type of osteogenesis the fractures may occur under little or no trauma at all. The eight conditions of osteogenesis are designated types starting from I through VIII. Each type has some unique symptoms while some common symptoms are shared by all types.

The most serious one is type II and its sufferers may get their bones fractured without any reason. In some cases, fracturing may even begin inside the womb before birth. The rest of the types are comparatively mild and are characterized by frequent fracturing in childhood on exposure to mild or severe trauma. Osteogenesis is a genetic disorder and there is no complete cure for it. The best that can be done to make it bearable is treatment of symptoms. In this article we breakdown symptoms of osteogenesis and some coping strategies that can help manage osteogenesis. If you feel that you have any of these symptoms then make sure to get in touch with the best orthopedic surgeon in Karachi for treatment.

Symptoms:

Deformation: Bone deformity is one of the main symptoms of osteogenesis. This symptom causes other symptoms as deformity is not limited to a specific area. For example, when the sternum which is the breastbone starts to deform, respiratory issues such as asthma arise. Another example of sub symptoms of deformed bones is a curved spine.

Auditory issues: Hearing problems occur in more than half of the osteogenesis patients especially in the middle age.

Visual issues: The people suffering from osteogenesis tend to have a sclera with a slight shade of blue. Apart from this decreased vision and a damaged retina is also seen in osteogenesis patients.

Weakness and fatigue:Patients have weak bones and loose joints leading to muscle aches and severe bone pain. The pain is exhaustive and the patients often feel tired and fatigued.  Before you take anything for this pain, make sure to consult the best orthopedic surgeon in Karachi.

Fractures and bruising: The bones as mentioned earlier are brittle causing frequent fractures. The skin’s connective tissues are also not developed properly due to hypermobility which means that the patients bruise easily.

Other: Other symptoms of osteogenesis include cardiac and neurological problems.

Treatment:

Osteogenesis is a hard condition to cope but many people with this condition go on to live long happy lives. Some treatment approaches that can be taken to address the symptoms are as follows

• Fractures should be treated appropriately through braces, splinters and casts.
• People suffering from sternum deformity should be given breathing aids.
• Hearing aids can help patients who are facing auditory issues.
• Pain killers should be prescribed to manage muscle aches and bone pain.
• Supplements such as bisphosphonate drugs can be used to enhance bone density.
• In severe cases, the fractured bones should be fixed through surgery.
• Adequate diet with supervised exercise can help manage the condition in a better way.
• In case of spinal curve, movement should be aided through wheelchairs or canes

If you have a diagnosis of osteogenesis and are having difficulty in managing it, see an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. You can also book an appointment with top orthopedic surgeons in Multan, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 to get directed to the specialists that can cater to your specific concerns.