Bone dysplasia is a condition characterized by abnormal bone growth, often caused by genetic disorders or growth hormone disturbances. Achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia are two common forms affecting children. Treatment options are limited, with hormonal drugs and surgical limb lengthening being the most common. Complications can include back pain, numbness in limbs, joint pain, and hearing loss.
In medicine, bone dysplasia is a condition characterized by abnormal bone growth, which occurs most frequently in children. There are many varieties of bone dysplasia, many of which are caused by genetic disorders or by disturbances in the levels of growth hormones in the blood. They are also often referred to as skeletal dysplasias. Sometimes these growth disturbances can lead to other problems such as limb deformities that make movement difficult and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis.
Two of the most common bone dysplasia conditions affecting the skeletal system of children are achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia. Achondroplasia is the most common form of what is commonly called dwarfism. This bone disease results from a genetic mutation in a gene that controls bone growth. It is recognized by the symptoms of very short limbs and an uncommon facial structure with a long forehead and small nose. The length of the spine in individuals with achondroplasia is usually normal, and other than skeletal system deformities, these individuals often have average health.
Hypochondroplasia is a very similar condition, but the skeletal deformation is less severe. The limbs are primarily affected, and the facial structure appears much closer to normal than in achondroplasia. Although both syndromes are due to a genetic mutation, they appear to be unrelated and an entirely different gene is responsible for achondroplasia than for hypochondroplasia.
Where bone dysplasia is the result of a genetic mutation, as is the case with most patients, available treatment is limited in scope. The administration of hormonal drugs to stimulate growth can have a beneficial effect, if carried out when the patient is a child. Another treatment that is sometimes performed is surgical limb lengthening. It is a complex and lengthy procedure that involves the use of bone grafts and metal plates. It can lead to infection and various complications, and more operations are required.
For many patients, treatment of bone dysplasia is limited to managing the medical complications and lifestyle difficulties that result from the disorder. Complications can include back pain, numbness in the limbs, joint pain, and sometimes hearing loss due to the effect of bone dysplasia on the skull and bony structures of the ear. As with all medical conditions, specific advice from a doctor is needed to determine your condition and the potential treatments available.
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