Acroosteolysis causes bone and tissue loss in fingers and toes, often hereditary or caused by PVC exposure or frostbite. It can lead to amputation and is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include ulcers and tissue recession, and tests include bone density and blood tests. There is no cure, but some underlying conditions can be managed. Causes include extreme heat or cold exposure, plastic exposure, hyperparathyroidism, leprosy, and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy.
Acroosteolysis, sometimes known as acro-osteolysis, is a rare condition that causes loss of bone and tissue in the fingers and toes. In most cases, this condition is hereditary, although it can also result from overexposure to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a severe case of frostbite. Patients with this condition often lose tissue because once acroosteolysis begins to destroy bone, the ends of the fingers and toes must be surgically removed so that nearby tissue is not damaged. Some diseases can also cause bone loss in the ends of the fingers.
In humans, the bone at the tip of each finger or toe ends in a structure known as a tuft. These tufts are a wider, flatter part of the bone and are found at the ends of the bones known as the distal phalanges. In acroosteolysis, these clumps disintegrate, causing permanent damage to the fingers and toes. This damage occurs slowly and can be difficult to diagnose in time for treatment. If left untreated, bone loss causes the surrounding tissue to die.
While it can be difficult for patients to determine if damage to the ends of the bones under the skin of the fingers and toes is occurring, there are some external symptoms of acroosteolysis. Ulcers can form on the tips of the fingers and toes in patients with this condition. In many cases, these ulcers may not heal or they may heal and reappear frequently. The tissue at the fingertips may also recede in acroosteolysis, causing the fingers and toes to shorten unevenly.
To test for acroosteolysis, doctors will need to examine the density of the bones in your hands and feet. Blood tests can be used to determine if calcium is being leached from the bones. X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be done so doctors can see if there has been any damage to the bones.
There is no treatment for acroosteolysis. When the condition is discovered, amputation may need to be done to prevent the spread of tissue necrosis and painful ulceration on the affected toes. In some cases, acroosteolysis caused by another medical condition can be treated through management of this disorder.
Doctors aren’t sure exactly why acroosteolysis occurs, although they have identified a number of conditions that can lead to it. Exposure to extreme heat or cold can physically damage the bones at the end of your fingers, and long-term exposure to certain plastics can also cause irreversible damage. Hyperparathyroidism, leprosy, and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy can also lead to this condition.
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