In medicine, bone dysplasia is a condition characterized by abnormal bone growth, most often occurring in children. There are many varieties of bone dysplasia, many of which are caused by genetic disorders or by abnormal levels of growth hormones in the blood. They are also often referred to as skeletal dysplasias. Sometimes these growth disorders can lead to other problems, such as limb deformities that make it difficult to move, and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis.
Two of the most common bone dysplasia conditions that affect the skeletal system of children are achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia. Achondroplasia is the most common form of what is commonly known as dwarfism. This bone disorder is the result of a genetic mutation in a gene that controls bone growth. It is recognized by the symptoms of very short limbs and an unusual facial structure with a long forehead and reduced nose. The length of the spine in people suffering from achondroplasia is usually normal, and aside from deformities of the skeletal system, these people often experience average health.
Hypochondroplasia is a very similar condition, but the skeletal deformity is less severe. The extremities are mainly affected, and the facial structure appears much closer to normal than in the case of achondroplasia. Although both syndromes are due to a genetic mutation, they appear to be unrelated, and a completely different gene is responsible for achondroplasia than for hypochondroplasia.
When bone dysplasia is the result of a genetic mutation, as is the case in most patients, the available treatment is limited in scope. The administration of hormonal drugs to stimulate growth may have a beneficial effect, if this is done when the patient is a child. Another treatment that is sometimes performed is surgical limb lengthening. This is a complex and lengthy procedure that involves the use of bone grafts and metal plates. It can lead to infections and various complications, and multiple 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 extremities, joint pain, and sometimes hearing loss due to the effect of bone dysplasia on the skull and bony structures of the ear. As is the case with all medical conditions, specific advice from a medical professional is necessary to determine the condition itself and the possible treatments available.