Bone disorders in children can be caused by injury, infection, or cancer; can be inherited; can occur as part of a child’s growth; or can occur for no known reason.
Some bone disorders can cause pain and difficulty walking.
Doctors base the diagnosis on a thorough physical examination, symptoms, and x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment depends on the disorder.
Children’s bones grow continually and reshape (remodel) themselves extensively. Growth proceeds from a vulnerable part of the bone called the growth plate. In remodeling, old bone tissue is gradually replaced by new bone tissue. Many bone disorders result from the changes that occur in a growing child’s musculoskeletal system. These disorders may get better or worsen as the child grows. Other bone disorders may be inherited or occur during childhood for no known reason.
Growth plates
People think of bones as solid objects. But bones need to grow along with the rest of the child's body. Children's bones grow from soft areas of cartilage near the ends of bones. These areas are called growth plates. When children have finished growing, growth plates become solid bone. After growth plates become solid, bones cannot grow in length. That is why people do not become taller after a certain point in late adolescence. Although bones repair themselves, such as after an injury, that repair does not involve the growth plates.
During childhood, injuries to the growth plates can cause the bone to grow abnormally.
Osteochondroses are growth plate disorders that occur when a child is growing rapidly.
Locating Growth Plates
Growth plates (indicated by the pink lines) are areas of cartilage near the ends of long bones, such as the arm and leg bones. They enable bones to lengthen until children reach their full height. When children have finished growing, growth plates become solid bone. After growth plates become solid, bones cannot grow in length. |
Bone density
Bone density is a measurement of minerals in bone tissue. Normal bone density is important for growth in children and for overall skeletal health. Disorders can result from both low bone density and high bone density, which increase the risk of fractures.
Bone density disorders can be caused by inherited abnormal genes or may be caused by factors such as poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, or other medical conditions. Osteoporosis in children is a low bone density disorder.
Causes of Bone Disorders in Children
Bone disorders in children can result from causes that affect people of all ages, including injury, infection (osteomyelitis), or cancer. Causes of bone disorders that affect mainly children typically involve the gradual misalignment of bones, which is caused by forces exerted on the growth plates as children are growing. A poor blood supply can also damage the growth plate, as can separation from the rest of the bone or even minor misalignment. Damage to the growth plate suppresses the growth of bones, distorts the joint, and can cause long-lasting joint damage (arthritis).
Certain rare connective tissue disorders can also affect the bones. They include Marfan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, and osteochondrodysplasias. Osteopetroses are other rare hereditary disorders that increase the density of bones, cause bones to grow abnormally, or both.
Symptoms of Bone Disorders in Children
Bone disorders sometimes cause painless deformities. Some deformities may affect a child’s ability to walk or use their limbs.
Diagnosis of Bone Disorders in Children
Treatment of Bone Disorders in Children
Depends on the disorder
Treatment of bone disorders varies depending on the condition. Children may outgrow some disorders. However, others may require bracing or surgery.
If a growth plate becomes damaged, surgery may help. Surgically correcting separated or misaligned ends of the growth plate may restore normal bone growth. By decreasing the irritation caused by misalignment, surgery may prevent the development of arthritis in the joint.
If a bone disorder causes a physical deformity, children may become anxious or depressed. Some treatments for bone disorders may also be psychologically difficult to accept. For example, adolescents may be reluctant to wear a back brace for treatment of scoliosis because doing so makes them appear different from their peers. Professional counseling may relieve anxiety or depression and may also help children go through with difficult treatments.
