Disorders Of Bone Metabolism In Severely Handicapped Children

Low bone density is common in severely handicapped children.

Bone metabolism disorders are very common in severely handicapped children. There are a variety of causes of these disorders, including immobilization and vitamin D deficiencies. In any case, there are treatment options or ways to keep the disorder from getting worse, depending on the disorder.

Background

There tends to be a deficiency of vitamin D in the bodies of severely handicapped children. This causes many of the children to experience growth deficiencies. To make up for these deficiencies, anticonvulsants are used by these children. However, these anticonvulsants haven't been proven effective, and other forms of treatment are rare.

Bone Density and Osteoporosis

Low bone density, or osteoporosis in particular, is a problem commonly found in children in whom severe cerebral palsy has been diagnosed. Because vitamin D is essential for normal skeletal development, without it the bones tend to become fragile and more likely to be broken by less impact. This lack of vitamin D can eventually lead to more serious conditions such as osteoporosis. An adequate amount of calcium, exercise and vitamin D are needed to maintain bone mass and prevent these types of disorders.

Epilepsy

Another condition associated with bone metabolism is epilepsy. The most common type of injury in children who have cerebral palsy or epilepsy is fractures of the children's bones. These injuries are caused by bone fragility due to a combination of factors including anti-epileptic treatments and the child's being immobilized for long periods.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine becomes curved away from the middle of the back. The spine becomes very weak. This disorder is diagnosed based on the degree of the curvature of the spine and whether one shoulder sits higher than the other. Scoliosis can be common in severely handicapped children if they are sitting or are immobilized for long periods.

Treatment Options

There are ways to treat bone metabolism issues. The first option is to do bone-building exercises to strengthen the bones. Your doctor can devise a plan laying out these exercises. Another treatment option is to give your child mineral substitutes, such as bisphosphonate medication, to help increase the mineral count in her body.

Tags: handicapped children, common severely, common severely handicapped, bone density, bone metabolism