Bone conditions and delayed treatment affect a child’s growth
Bone conditions are disorders that affect the structure and function of the bones in the human body. Some of these conditions are congenital, meaning they are present at birth, while others are acquired, meaning they develop later in life due to various factors. Some examples of bone conditions are osteogenesis imperfecta, rickets, scoliosis, and osteoporosis.
Delayed treatment of bone conditions can have serious consequences for a child’s growth and development. Bones are essential for supporting the body, protecting the organs, enabling movement, and storing minerals. If a bone condition is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can lead to deformities, fractures, pain, infections, and reduced mobility. Moreover, bone conditions can affect the growth plates, which are areas of cartilage at the ends of the long bones that determine the length and shape of the bones. If the growth plates are damaged or disturbed by a bone condition, it can result in short stature, asymmetry, or abnormal proportions.
Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if a child shows signs or symptoms of a bone condition. These may include frequent or unexplained fractures, bone pain or tenderness, swelling or redness around a joint, difficulty walking or moving, abnormal posture or curvature of the spine, or delayed growth or puberty. A doctor can perform various tests to diagnose the specific type of bone condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Treatment may include medication, surgery, physical therapy, braces, splints, or casts. The goal of treatment is to correct or prevent further damage to the bones and joints, relieve pain and inflammation, improve function and quality of life, and promote normal growth and development.
References:
– Baim S. (2019). Bone Disorders in Children: An Overview. Pediatrics in Review, 40(1), 14–28. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2017-0200
– Cheung M., & Glorieux F. H. (2008). Osteogenesis imperfecta: update on presentation and management. Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders, 9(2), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-007-9074-6
– DeLucia M. C., Mitnick M. E., & Carpenter T. O. (2003). Nutritional rickets with normal circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D: a call for reexamining the role of dietary calcium intake in North American infants. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 88(8), 3539–3545. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-021931
– Konieczny M. R., Senyurt H., & Krauspe R. (2013). Epidemiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics, 7(1), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11832-012-0457-4
– Rizzoli R., Bianchi M. L., Garabédian M., McKay H. A., & Moreno L. A. (2010). Maximizing bone mineral mass gain during growth for the prevention of fractures in the adolescents and the elderly. Bone, 46(2), 294–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2009.10.005
– Weinstein S.L., & Dolan L.A.(2018). Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: prevalence, natural history and treatment outcomes.In: Weinstein SL,Dolan LA,(eds) The Growing Spine: Management of Spinal Disorders in Young Children.Springer,Berlin.Heidelberg.
