Many bone disorders, particularly those affecting the lower extremities (eg, Osgood-Schlatter disease), result from the dramatic changes that occur in a growing child's musculoskeletal system . These disorders may resolve or worsen with continued growth. Other bone disorders may be inherited (eg, achondroplasia) or acquired (eg, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease).

Last full review/revision February 2008 by Frank Pessler, MD, PhD; David D. Sherry, MD