Your bones help you move, give you shape and support your body. They are living tissues that rebuild constantly throughout your life. During childhood and your teens, your body adds new bone faster than it removes old bone. After about age 20, you can lose bone faster than you make bone. To have strong bones when you are young, and to prevent bone loss when you are older, you need to get enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise.
There are many kinds of bone problems:
- Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and more likely to break
- Osteogenesis imperfecta makes your bones brittle
- Paget's disease of bone makes them weak
- Bone disease can make bones easy to break
- Bones can also develop cancer
- Other bone diseases are caused by poor nutrition, genetic factors or problems with the rate of bone growth or rebuilding
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Bone Disease Test Shows Death Risk for Dialysis Patients(07/31/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67625.html
- ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alp/test.html
- Bone Markers(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/bone_markers/glance.html
- Bone Scan: Using Nuclear Medicine to Find Bone Abnormalities(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bone-scan/CA00020/METHOD=print
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Bone X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bonerad&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=bonerad
- Calcium Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/calcium/test.html
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Glossary of Orthopaedic Diagnostic Tests(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00272
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00492
- Bone and Tissue Transplantation(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00115
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=3
- Bone Spurs(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bone-spurs/DS00627/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Bone Tumor(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00074&return_link=0
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Craniosynostosis
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/craniosynostosis/craniosynostosis.htm
- Enchondroma(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00085
- Fibrous Dysplasia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/fibrous-dysplasia/DS00991/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Giant Cell Tumor of Bone(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00080
- Infectious Arthritis(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch065/ch065c.html
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JAMA Patient Page: Osteomyelitis(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/299/7/858.pdf
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Klippel-Feil Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/klippel_feil/klippel_feil.htm
- Limb Length Discrepancy(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00259
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Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/488.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/488.printerview.html
- Osteochondroma (Bone Tumor)(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00079
- Osteomalacia(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/4000/4042.asp?index=13017
- Osteomalacia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/osteomalacia/DS00935/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Osteomyelitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/osteomyelitis/DS00759/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Renal Osteodystrophy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/renalosteodystrophy/
- Unicameral (Simple) Bone Cyst(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00081
- Bone and Joint Problems Associated with Diabetes(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diabetes/AN01072/METHOD=print
- Exercise and Bone and Joint Conditions(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00100
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Hyperparathyroidism: What It Is and How It's Treated(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/hormone/251.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/hormone/251.printerview.html
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Oral Health and Bone Disease(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Oral_Health/default.asp
- Smoking and Musculoskeletal Health(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00192
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Vitamin A and Bone Health(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/vitamin_a.asp
- Atlas of the Body: The Skeleton -- Side View(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZKBBGBGJC&sub_cat=523
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Bones, Muscles, and Joints: The Musculoskeletal System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/bones_muscles_joints.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/bones_muscles_joints_esp.html
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Bone+Diseases%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteomyelitis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Osteomyelitis%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=asphyxiatingthoracicdystrophy
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Genetics Home Reference: Atelosteogenesis type 2(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=atelosteogenesistype2
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Genetics Home Reference: Camurati-Engelmann disease(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=camuratiengelmanndisease
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Genetics Home Reference: Diastrophic dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=diastrophicdysplasia
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Genetics Home Reference: Enlarged parietal foramina(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=enlargedparietalforamina
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Genetics Home Reference: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=fibrodysplasiaossificansprogressiva
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Genetics Home Reference: Frontometaphyseal dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=frontometaphysealdysplasia
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Genetics Home Reference: Hereditary multiple exostoses(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hereditarymultipleexostoses
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Genetics Home Reference: Hypophosphatasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypophosphatasia
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Genetics Home Reference: Melnick-Needles syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=melnickneedlessyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=multipleepiphysealdysplasia
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Genetics Home Reference: Otopalatodigital syndrome type 1(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=otopalatodigitalsyndrometype1
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Genetics Home Reference: Otopalatodigital syndrome type 2(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=otopalatodigitalsyndrometype2
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Genetics Home Reference: Platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia, Torrance type(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=platyspondyliclethalskeletaldysplasiatorrancetype
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Genetics Home Reference: Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=rothmundthomsonsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=spondyloepiphysealdysplasiacongenita
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Genetics Home Reference: Tetra-amelia syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=tetraameliasyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=xlinkedspondyloepiphysealdysplasiatarda
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cranial vault expansion in the management of postshunt craniosynostosis and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827653&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Raised intracranial pressure in Apert syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827651&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Ilizarov external fixation and then nailing in management of infected... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18784585&tool=MedlinePlus
- Bone Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=bone+diseases[majr]+NOT+(rickets[mh]+OR+bone+neoplasms[mh]+OR+osteoporosis[mh]+OR+spinal+diseases[mh]+OR+osteitis+deformans[mh]+OR+osteonecrosis[mh]+OR+osteogenesis+imperfecta[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]))&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases~National Resource Center(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/
- Orthopaedic Fast Facts(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00130
- Bone Up on Bone Loss(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00110
- Bowed Legs(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00230
- Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Disorders(American Association of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/craniosynostosis.asp
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McCune-Albright Syndrome(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/mccune_albright_syndrome.cfm
- Problems with Legs and Feet(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/bone/orthopedic_conditions.html
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Your Bones(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/bones.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/cuerpo/bones_esp.html
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Osteomyelitis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/bones/osteomyelitis.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/osteomyelitis_esp.html
- Bone Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonecancer.html
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteogenesisimperfecta.html
- Osteonecrosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteonecrosis.html
- Osteoporosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteoporosis.html
- Paget's Disease of Bone - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pagetsdiseaseofbone.html
- Rickets - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rickets.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Bone Diseases is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Bone Diseases - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/bonediseases.html