The Skeletal System - Common Diseases and Disorders

Ankylosis

Loss or absence of mobility in a joint because of disease, injury, or surgical procedure.

Arthrosclerosis

Stiffness of the joint and is common in the elderly

Bursitis

Inflammation of a bursa or cushioning sac in the joint causing pain

Chondromalacia

Abnormal softening of the cartilage in a joint causing pain with movement

Sprain

Occurs when a ligament that connects bones together is stretched beyond its limits or torn

Synovitis

Inflammation of the synovial membrane of a joint resulting in pain and swelling.

Dislocation (Aka luxation)

Occurs when there is total displacement of a bone from its joint. Partial displacement is called subluxation.

Arthritis (general)

Inflammatory condition of a joint. It can happen in several joint or just one. There are over 100 types of arthritis with a variety of causes

Osteoarthritis (Arthritis)

Associated with wear-and-tear because of overuse, sports, or aging. It is considered to be a degenerative joint disease since it wears down the articular cartilage within the joint.

Spondylosis (Arthritis)

Commonly called spinal osteoarthritis. Describes the loss of normal spinal structure and function.

Gout

Form of arthritis caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in a joint which can make the joint painful, red, and warm. Often begins in the big toe.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Chronic autoimmune disorder attacking not only the joints but other organs as well.

Ankylosing spondylitis (Arthritis)

Form a RA leading to inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune disorder affects children ages 16 years or younger. Symptoms include pain, swelling at the joint, stiffness, rash, fever, fatigue, and stunted growth

Herniated disk

Referred to as a slipped or ruptured disk. The intervertebral disk breaks apart resulting in pressure on the associated spinal nerve.

Lumbago

Low back pain or pain in the lumbar region of the spine. It can be caused by many things.

Spondylolisthesis

Slipping movement of the body of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae on the vertebra or sacrum in the forward direction.

Spina Bifida

Congenital defect (birth defect) that occurs early in pregnancy. The spinal canal fails to close completely around the spinal cord resulting in a lack of protection. A lack of folic acid during the early stages of pregnancy has been linked to the occurrence of spina bifida.

Scoliosis

Abnormal lateral, or sideways, curvature of the spine

Lordosis

Abnormal increase in the forward curvature of the lumbar spine. Commonly called swaybackK

Kyphosis

Abnormal increase in the outward curvature of the thoracic spine if viewed from the side. Commonly called humpback, associated with aging.

Craniostenosis

Problem with the formation of the skull where there is a premature closure of the cranial sutures after birthO

Osteitis

Inflammation of a bone, also known as ostitis

Periostitis

Inflammation of the periosteum (Surrounding lining of the bone) of the bone.

Rickets

Deficiency of vitamin D required to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in the bone resulting in problematic bone growth

Osteomalacia

Abnormal softening of bones in adults, sometimes children. Can also be called adult rickets and is usually caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone caused by a bacterial infection often in another part of the body.

Paget’s Disease

Chronic bone disease characterized by an abnormal breakdown of the bone beginning in the pelvis, skull, spine, and legs. New bone then forms but is often structurally enlarged, weak, and oddly shaped.

Osteoporosis

Loss of bone density resulting in increased porosity of the bone often associated with aging

Osteopenia

Bone density that is thinner than normal. Higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Compression Fractures

These types of fractures are often seen in people with osteoporosis. Typically occurs in the vertebral column where the bone is pressed together resulting in loss of height, pain, and spinal curvature abnormalities.

Colles’ fracture

Associated with osteoporosis. Occurs in the lower end of the radius often when people try to break a fall and land on their hands.

Closed fractures

Often termed a simple fracture. When the bone is broken but does not puncture the skin.

Open fracture

Often termed a compound fracture. Not only is the bone broken, but it breaks the skin forming a wound in the tissue.

Comminuted fracture

Fracture where the bone is crushed or splintered into small pieces

Greenstick fracture

Bone is only partially broken. Typically occurs in children prior to complete bone development.

Oblique fracture

Occurs when the break occurs across the bone at an angle

Transverse fracture

Occurs straight across the bone

Pathologic fracture

Occurs when the bone is weakened because of disease or with excessive impact, overuse, or injury

Spiral fracture

Occurs when the bone is twisted around its axis

Avulsed fracture

Occurs when part of the bone is chipped away at the end

Segmental fracture

Occurs when the bone is broken into multiple pieces

Primary bone cancer

Malignant (becomes progressively worse and the risk of death is high) tumor that originates in the bone.

Secondary bone cancer

Tumors that spread, or metastasized, to bones from other organs

Myeloma

Type of cancer occurs in blood making cells found in the red bone marrow. It is often fatal and causes pathologic fractures

Osteochondroma

Benign bony project covered with cartilage

Osteosarcoma

Bone cancer that begins in the cells that form the bones and is typically found in long bones often in the legs.

Bone marrow transplants (General)

Used to treat leukemia and lymphomas which affect the bone marrow. Process includes first destroying the cancer cells and the patient’s bone marrow using high-intensity radiation and chemotherapy. Then, healthy bone marrow stem cells are transfused into the patients blood. These stem cells migrate to the spongy bone and eventually multiply to form red bone marrow that is now cancer free

Allogenic bone marrow transplant

Method of BMT that uses healthy bone marrow cells from a compatible donor. There must be a perfect match to avoid rejection by the patients body.

Autologous bone marrow transplant

Method of BMT uses the patients own bone marrow cells which have been harvested, cleaned, treated, and stored before the bone marrow is destroyed.