Skeletal Disorders and Diseases

Written by docteam Friday, 07 May 2010 08:45

Disorders and diseases of the skeletal system range all the way from flatfoot to deadly bone cancer. They may be broadly categorized as osteodystrophies, inflammatory lesions and tumors. Osteodystrophies are a group conditions in which there is an abnormality of development, form, or structure of bone. Inflammatory lesions include bone infections (osteomyelitis) and arthritis (rheumotoid arthritis). Tumors of bone are uncommon. Some cancers start in bone, whereas others are the result of metastasis.

Curvature of The Spine

One out of every 10 young people age 10 to 14 will develop some curvature of the spine. An abnormal curvature of the spine with rearward convexity is called kyphosis ; an abnormal forward curvature of the spine in the lumbar region is called lordosis ; a side to side curvature is called scoliosis. In most cases the cause is unknown, and the condition cannot be prevented.

Sometimes it runs in families. Most people with a mild curvature will only need medical observation. If the condition grows worse, a back brace is worn until bone growth stops. This does not limit most activities. Special exercise may also be included. In extreme case, spinal surgery is performed. Failure to treat pronounced curvatures can result in medical problems later in life, including obvious physical deformity, pain and arthritic symptoms, and heart and lung disorders.

Low Back Pain

Low back pain, according to one estimate, is experienced to some degree by about one third of the population. In the typical case there is pain in the low lumbar, lumbosacral, or sacroiliac region of the back. Pain radiating down the legs commonly is present and may be more severe than the back pain. Most low back pain is related to degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral are resulting from stress in the lumbosacral junction caused by upright posture. But other causes are almost without number, ranging from congenital defects to obesity. A very special, specific cause of low back pain is a herniated intervertebral disk or, in popular language, "slipped disk".

Foot Problems

The feet are the most abused parts of the body, a fact not difficult to appreciate when we consider that the average American walks about 115000 miles in a lifetime- more than four times around the world. With each step, minor abnormalities in the foot structure or shoes that do not fit right, or both, can result in such ailments as corns, calluses, bunions, and hammer toes.