Fibrous dysplasia happens when healthy bone is replaced with other types of tissue. Bones may become weak, oddly shaped, or even break. You may also feel pain.
The disease can affect any bone in the body. The most common bones affected are in the skull and face, leg bones, upper arm, pelvis, and ribs. Affected bones are often found on one side of the body, although the disease does not spread from one bone to another.
Highlights
Fibrous dysplasia happens when healthy bone is replaced with other types of tissue.
Bones may become oddly shaped or even break. You may also feel pain.
Fibrous dysplasia is caused by a problem with a gene in the cells that form bone and other tissues.
Medications, surgery, and a cast may be used to treat symptoms of the disease.
Talk to your doctor about an exercise and diet program that will keep your bones healthy.
Risk Factors
Fibrous dysplasia is not common, although anyone can get it. It is usually starts in children and young adults. Once a person has the condition, they will have it for the rest of their life.
Causes
Fibrous dysplasia is caused by a problem with a gene that forms bone and other affected tissues. This gene is not inherited from your parents, and you will not pass the disease to your children.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of fibrous dysplasia include:
- Pain
- Bones that are oddly shaped
- Broken bones, which are more common between the ages of six and 10
- Legs of different lengths, leading to a limp
- Sinus problems
- In very rare cases, vision loss or cancer
Diagnosis
To diagnose you with fibrous dysplasia, your doctor may use one or more of the following tests:
- X-rays of your bones
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT)
- Small bone sample
- It’s not clear whether testing for the problem gene is useful
Treatment
There is no cure for fibrous dysplasia. Doctors will treat the symptoms with treatments such as:
- Cast for broken bones
- Surgery to:
- Repair broken bones
- Prevent fracture
- Correct the shape of a bone
- Relieve bone pain
- Medications, such as bisphosphonates, that can reduce pain associated with the disease
Recovery
Besides seeing your doctor, there are a few things you can do to keep your bones healthy:
- Exercise: talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program
- Diet: you should eat foods that are high in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D
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