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Bone fractures

Bone fractures are the most common causes of mobility disability. This is a condition where a bone becomes cracked or split as a result of excessive stress on the bone. This stress can be due to a sudden force during accidents, or a gradual weakening of the bones, caused by other diseases such as brittle bone disease and osteoporosis.
Bone fractures usually not permanent, as bone healing by the body will set in. However, for chronic bone conditions such as osteoporosis, fractures are likely to occur routinely.
Bone healing repairs the area around the fracture and heals the damaged bone. This involves blood vessels growing around the affecting region, bringing in white blood cells to clear away waste materials. Collagen, a rubbery connective tissue, stabilizes the bone temporarily until bone matrix, laid down by fibroblasts brought in by the blood vessels, mineralizes the collagen to transform it into hard and stiff bone.
Walking with serious bone fractures in the legs requires aids such as crutches, splints or wheelchairs. However, even more serious fractures require surgical implants to lighten the stress on the bone.

 

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer. It is the most bone cancer, making up more than half the total bone conditions. It is also the 6th most common cancer in children below the age of 15.
The causes of osteosarcoma are not yet understood. Speculations include chemical compounds or viral agents.
Osteosarcoma causes a cancerous growth around the ends of bones which gradually becomes tumoural bones. Patients often experience extended pain at the affected region, often lasting for months. Swelling may be observed if the growth is large, and fractures may occur at little force, as a result of the weakening of the bone.
This disease can be treated by surgery and chemotherapy, often a combination of both. After a period of chemotheraphy, which may shrink the tumour, surgery is performed. Thich excises the tumour from the affected region. However, if the growth has spread to major blood vessels or nerves, amputation may be required.
Terry Fox, the Canadian cancer treatment activist and athlete, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 19. The only viable treatment at that time was amputation.

 

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

More commonly known as brittle bone disease, this condition is a genetic bone disease. Osteogenesis imperfecta causes people with this disease to lack collagen, or without the capacity to produce it. Collagen, a protein, is a form of connective tissue. It is one of the main components in bones, ligaments and cartilage. Deficiency in collagen, caused by osteogenesis imperfecta, results in fragile bones that fracture easily.
Osteogenesis imperfecta has six types, Type I to Type VI, with Type I being the mildest. Type I causes slight spinal curvatures, loose joints and weak bones. Type II to Type IV causes deformities in the bones, and can lead to fatal respiratory failures as a result of under-developed lungs. Osteogenesis imperfecta can also cause hearing loss in children.
Although there is no complete cure for osteogenesis imperfecta, medical treatments can increase bone strength to decrease the likelihood of bone fractures. Physiotherapy, through gradual movements, can build up muscles that support the bones, to reduce fractures. Metal implants can be inserted surgically to prevent fractures. Crutches, splints or properly-cushioned wheelchairs can aid greatly in locomotion.

 

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease where bones become less dense and more fragile. The term ‘osteoporosis’ literally means ‘porous bone’. This is the result of gradual bone loss. Causes include advanced age, family history of the disease, calcium deficiency, smoking, and a lack of general fitness. Osteoporosis usually sets in after the age of 50, and it is far more common in women than in men, affecting approximately 1 in 3 women, compared to 1 in 12 men.
The underlying cause in osteoporosis is when the body breaks down bone tissue faster than it can replace it. This causes the bone structure having more open gaps in the bone matrix, resulting in weaker bones more prone to fracture, which is the main problem faced by patients. Osteoporotic fractures are fractures in the bone occurring under stress levels that do not cause fractures in non-osteoporotic people. This can result in limited locomotion or even disability. Other risks are associated with osteoporosis includes the formation of blood clots that are the cause of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Prevention is better than cure for osteoporosis. Adolescents can drink milk or consume calcium-rich foods to maintain an adequate calcium level and do regular physical exercises. Adults, other than to maintain their calcium intake and physical fitness, should avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Falls should be avoided, as they can lead to fractures.
A prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment can maintain bone density and delay the onset of osteoporosis greatly. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are prescribed, in conjunction with other drugs that can stimulate bone growth. Exercise and nutrition programmes which strengthen muscles and improves overall fitness can also fight osteoporosis.