Hyperostosis - Causes and Signs of Hyperostosis

Hyperostosis is a dysplastic disease and can be considered as an independent disease or as one of the symptoms of other diseases.

In terms of morphological features, it is an expanding compacted bone tissue. It grows in two ways:

• Periosteally, it is a pathological change in the spongy layer, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the tubular bone, a decrease in blood supply due to the desolation of the vessels.
• Endosteally, almost all layers are subject to change. The periosteum, spongy and cortical layers become denser and thicker, which leads to a strong (visually noticeable) deformation. During the examination, a high concentration of immature bone matter is detected, the bone marrow is replaced by connective tissue fibers.

According to the prevalence of the process, two forms are distinguished:

• Local - spreading within one bone. This type is usually provoked by excessive physical exertion, tumor processes or age-related changes.
• Generalized - multiple bone lesions, accompanied by deviations in other systems and organs. Refers to hereditary diseases, but doctors often encounter unspecified pathogenesis. May be accompanied by hearing loss, vision impairment, and delayed physical development.

Causes

The most common causes of hyperostosis include the following:

• excessive physical strain on one of the limbs (occurs with unilateral amputation);
• injuries accompanied by inflammation, infection;
• pathological fractures;
• general intoxication of the body, poisoning, radiation exposure;
• malignant tumors;
• systemic, rheumatic diseases;
• endocrinopathies;
• heredity.

Symptoms

In childhood (up to six months), hyperostosis is characterized by acute symptoms: elevated body temperature, anxiety, irritation. The face, especially the frontal part and lower jaw, swell. The extremities are also affected: soft tissues become inflamed, swellings form, which are highly dense and painful upon palpation.

The period of puberty is accompanied by a decrease in muscle tissue, decreased hearing, vision, nervous tics, fever. Such patients need to consult an orthopedist, rheumatologist, phthisiatrician, pulmonologist, endocrinologist, pediatrician or therapist.

Diagnostics

At the first signs of hyperostosis (in infants this is swelling, in adults it is accompanied by localized pain), it is necessary to make an appointment with a pediatrician or therapist.

Such diagnostic methods as questioning, examination and palpation of the patient do not provide informative results. One of the most accurate diagnostic methods is radiography. Additionally, tomography, encephalography or radionuclide examination may be prescribed.

In some cases, the diagnosis is established by differentiating similar pathologies: osteopathy, tuberculosis, congenital syphilis.

Treatment

To treat the disease, the doctor prescribes a set of anti-inflammatory, vitamin-mineral and general tonic drugs. Physiotherapy procedures and exercise therapy are indicated.

Prevention

With timely detection, the prognosis is favorable in 99%. After complete recovery (from 2 to 6 months), the patient visits the doctor once a year (for acquired) and 2 times (for congenital form) for examination, if necessary, takes an X-ray.