Osteosclerosis - the so-called pathological change in the structure of bones. It is found in the diagnoses of elderly people, professional athletes and not only. What triggers such processes in the body?
What is osteosclerosis?
Osteosclerosis - what is it? This is a disease of bone tissue, which is manifested by an increase in the density of the bone structure, as well as a narrowing of the bone marrow canal in volume. With a severe form of the process, the bone marrow canal is completely closed, the bone acquires a homogeneous structure.
It develops as a result of a violation of blood supply, the presence of a tumor or chronic infection. An x-ray is the only way to identify a disease for diagnosis. On the x-ray, the affected areas of the bone are darker compared to a healthy bone. When looking at the diseased bones in the picture, they look strong, but this impression is misleading. Osteosclerosis reduces the elasticity of bones, their quality and mechanical functions, increasing fragility.
Types of Osteosclerosis
Distinguish osteosclerosis by localization:
- Local. The site of osteosclerosis of a small size is mainly the site of a bone fracture.
- Limited. It develops on the border between a healthy bone and a focus of chronic inflammation, for example, with syphilis or osteomyelitis.
- Common - captures the bones of one or more limbs.
- Systemic It is found in diseases of various nature, including genetic. All bone mass is affected.
Osteosclerosis is divided into three main types, depending on the cause of its occurrence:
- Physiological. It develops in childhood, in the process of formation and growth of the skeleton. The reason is congenital malformations of bone tissue.
- Post-traumatic. It is observed in the pathology of healing of bone fractures, as well as in inflammatory processes that change the structure of bone tissue.
- Reactive. The occurrence of osteosclerosis is a reaction to tumor processes, and may also be the result of toxic effects on the body.
Depending on the origin of the disease:
Genetic reasons
We can say about a disease such as osteosclerosis, which is such a pathological phenomenon that deforms a healthy bone structure. It is not an independent disease, but acts as a manifestation of other diseases. Hereditary diseases can become its cause:
- Meloreostosis (Lerie’s disease). Congenital pathology of the skeleton, manifested by an increase in the density of the bone site. The foci of osteosclerosis are also found in the ribs, vertebrae, lower jaw. Manifestations: increased fatigue, pain, weakness, inability to flex and extend the joints.
- Marble disease (osteopetrosis). This is a serious genetic pathology. It can occur immediately after birth or at about ten years old. It is accompanied by hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain), malformations of the organs of hearing and vision, an increase in the liver and spleen. Children suffer from severe anemia, systemic osteosclerosis, lag behind in mental and physical development, have frequent fractures.
- Osteopoikilia. A genetic disease of the skeleton, which is accompanied by numerous foci of osteosclerosis. It does not manifest itself with any symptoms, it is detected after fluoroscopy.
- Dysosteosclerosis. It appears at an early age. The main symptoms: stunting, impaired dental development, systemic osteosclerosis, paralysis, blindness.
- Pycnodysostosis. Severe violation, detected at an early age. Characteristic signs: children lag behind in physical development, have shortened hands, a violation of the structure of the skeleton of the face, teeth, systemic osteosclerosis develops, frequent pathological fractures occur.
- Paget's disease (osteitis deformans). Accompanied by the destruction of bone tissue. The bone acquires a mosaic structure, with foci of osteosclerosis and osteoporosis, very fragile and prone to fractures.
Reasons for acquired character
- Bone infections. Inflammatory processes of bone tissue caused by infection are often accompanied by local osteosclerosis, which develops at the border of the affected and healthy areas. It manifests itself in diseases such as chronic osteomyelitis Garre, syphilis, Broaddy abscess, bone tuberculosis.
- Injury to bones, heavy load on joints or spine.
- Exposure to the body of toxic substances.
- Cancers that cause bone metastasis.
So, osteosclerosis - what is it? This is a pathology of bone tissue that accompanies various bone diseases, congenital or acquired.
Symptoms of Osteosclerosis
Osteosclerosis has no obvious symptoms. A person may feel fatigue, tiredness when walking, but this can be signs of any disease, so you can diagnose bone osteosclerosis only by taking an x-ray. An alarming sign may be frequent fractures of the limbs. Most often, the disease is detected by chance in the diagnosis of other diseases. If a person suffers from any disease of the musculoskeletal system, osteosclerosis also accompanies him very often.
Subchondral osteosclerosis
Subchondral osteosclerosis is the most common form of tissue compaction. This is one of the main manifestations of such diseases of the musculoskeletal system as osteochondrosis and arthrosis. Bone compaction occurs at the borders with areas affected by the inflammatory process. The area of his lesion becomes the spine, most often the cervical and lumbar, and joints - knee, hip, fingers.
The term subchondral itself means "cartilaginous". Bone tissue under the damaged cartilage is compacted, grows, over time, growths - osteophytes form. In the initial stage, they do not manifest themselves, in severe form cause pain when bent, and ultimately can make the process of joint flexion and extension impossible. If pathological processes occur in the spine, then we mean osteosclerosis of the locking plates, which are located between the disc of the vertebra and its body.
Causes of Subchondral Osteosclerosis
Since subchondral osteosclerosis is a concomitant manifestation of arthrosis and osteochondrosis, the reasons for their occurrence are the same:
- Unhealthy diet and overweight.
- Age-related changes.
- Congenital predisposition.
- Great physical activity during work or playing sports, frequent injuries to the joints.
- A sedentary lifestyle, staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
- Disorders of the endocrine system.
- Vascular diseases, circulatory disorders.
- Pathology of the development of the skeleton or muscle mass.
- Disruptions in the endocrine system.
Symptoms of Subchondral Osteosclerosis
Symptoms of subchondral osteosclerosis depend on the disease that caused it, the nature of the lesion, the severity and complications, if any. At an early stage, he has no obvious manifestations. If the process is localized in the joints, this can cause deformation of the limbs. Osteosclerosis of the vertebra does not appear until it causes osteophytes (pathological growth on bone tissue), then pain and neurological disorders occur, this is due to difficulty in the motor process and pinching of the nerves. Patients feel constant pain in the neck or lower back. In a severe, neglected form, it becomes the cause of vertebral fractures, provokes a loss of performance.
Joints
Osteosclerosis of the articular surfaces extends its effect to the bone plates located under the cartilage of the joint. The most common cause of development is permanent joint injuries or physical exertion causing arthrosis, and as a result, osteosclerosis. Another common reason is old age. The cartilage tissue wears out over time, and this leads to the compaction of the articular part of the bone.
Joint osteosclerosis does not manifest itself at an early stage, but with the development of pathology and an increase in the affected surface, pain is felt during exertion, walking, which disappears if the joint is at rest. In a more severe stage, pain is constant and does not disappear with a decrease in stress.
Treatment of subchondral osteosclerosis
First of all, it is necessary to treat the diseases that caused the development of osteosclerosis, and to do this in the initial stage of the disease. Treatment of neglected ailments will no longer give results, but will only allow to suspend or slow down the destruction. The problem is that such diseases do not cause much discomfort to the patient, so he is in no hurry to go to the doctor. But the sooner the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to cope with it. If we talk about osteosclerosis itself, its treatment involves taking anti-inflammatory and analgesic (if necessary) drugs. The doctor may prescribe additional medications in accordance with the available symptoms, for example, relieving muscle spasm.
After the pain is relieved, physiotherapy and massage therapy are included in the treatment. Medical gymnastics is also used, which should be carried out strictly according to the rules, smoothly, without loading the sore joint, but giving a full range of movements. If the course of osteosclerosis was long and has already given such a complication as osteophytes, it is impossible to get rid of them (only the surgical method is possible), therefore treatment is aimed at maintaining joint mobility.
Bone Disease Prevention
The best treatment is prevention. And in order for it to be fruitful, you need to know everything about osteosclerosis, what it is and what causes it. The main rules of prevention:
- Performing physical exercises. A passive lifestyle is detrimental to the joints and spine, as well as excessively strong loads. But correctly selected exercises improve the work and the structure of bone tissue, stabilize blood supply, prevent articular cartilage from thinning and lose its main function - movement. For example, running is a prophylaxis of arthritis, and hence osteosclerosis. In addition, an active lifestyle will not allow the appearance of excess weight, which is a big enemy for the joints and spine, and health in general.
- Of great importance is nutrition. All consumed foods affect the body positively or negatively. They can increase or decrease the number of free radicals that destroy joints, relieve or provoke inflammatory processes.
- Listen carefully to your body. If there are any unpleasant sensations, do not wait until it passes by itself, but consult a doctor, if necessary, undergo an examination so as not to start an irreversible destructive process.