What are the causes of pathological fractures of bone?
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Causes include resorption of bone mass (osteoporosis), reduction of bone quality (osteomalacia, osteonecrosis), insufficient bone production (osteogenesis imperfecta, fibrous dysplasia), augmented bone resorption (giant cell granulomas, aneurysmal bone cyst), pathological bone remodelling (Paget’s disease), or local …
How do you know if a fracture is pathological?
Your doctor will diagnose a pathologic fracture by first doing a physical exam. They may also ask you to do certain movements to help identify the broken bone. You’ll likely need an X-ray, which will give your doctor a clear view of the break.
What is the difference between traumatic and pathologic fracture?
Key points. High force is required to fracture a normal bone, but diseased bones may fracture as a result of low impact trauma. A fracture arising within abnormal bone is termed ‘pathological.
How do you treat a pathologic fracture?
Treatments. The goals of treatment are pain relief, reversal or stabilization of neurological deficits, and stabilization of the spine. For the most part, nonoperative treatments are recommended for less severe pathologic fractures. These include taking pain medications, limiting physical activity, and wearing a brace.
What are two common causes of pathological fractures?
Pathologic fractures are frequently caused by tumors. Tumors may originate in the vertebrae, or may be the result of cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. The vertebrae are a common site for metastasis.
What conditions must be present for a pathologic fracture to occur?
A break is called a pathologic fracture when force or impact didn’t cause the break to happen. Instead, an underlying disease leaves your bones weak and brittle. You may move wrong or shift your body weight in a way that puts pressure on weak bones. For most people, it takes a significant force to break your bones.
Do pathological fractures hurt?
Pathologic vertebral fractures may or may not cause symptoms. If pathologic fractures cause symptoms, these may include: pain in back, legs, and arms. neurological impairment–such as numbness and/or weakness in the arms or legs (if the fracture has affected the spinal cord and/or nerves in the spine)