Bone Abstracts

Fractures in children are common; prospective cohort studies suggest narrower bones predispose to fracture. Early life events can influence later growth and development. Observational studies suggest children born to mothers with lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy have narrower bones. We investigated the effects of maternal vitamin D deficiency on offspring’s bones’ response to mechanical loading in a model system.C57BL/6 female mice (...

Type V OI is characterised by interosseous membrane calcification and hyperplastic callus formation, but the infantile phenotype is less well recognised. In 2012 Arundel et al. described distinctive radiographic changes in an infant with type V OI. We report two further male infants (with genetic confirmation of type V OI) confirming the highly characteristic and consistent radiographic appearances that should aid early diagnosis.Case 1 – P...

Background: In patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a rise in age-specific total body and regional bone mass is well recognised. In contrast changes in body size-adjusted bone mass in relation to changes in body composition following pamidronate therapy remain relatively unexplored.Methods: Changes in total and regional bone mass in relation to body composition in children with OI receiving pamidronate (3 mg/kg per day over 3 days, 3 monthly) were...

Background: A 15 year old boy with antenatally diagnosed osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) was reviewed following concerns about poor linear growth, lack of pubertal development and persistent deciduous teeth. He had a history of crush fractures of L1–L2 and previous intra-medullary rodding of his right femur and had been on oral bisphosphonates (Risedronate 70 mg once weekly). He was significantly short (height SDS −4.9), substantially below his genetic potential (targe...

Objectives: Type V osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) results in abnormal modelling of the ulna, dislocation of the radial head and interosseous membrane calcification (IOM). Individuals develop reduced functional ability as a consequence of reduced range of movement (ROM) including elbow flexion and/or supination, which may be intrinsic or secondary to the radiographic findings. We describe the evolution of radiographic and functional parameters in a cohort seen in our centre.<...

Background: A 3.2 year old boy was reviewed following 2 low trauma femoral fractures. He had been born at 31 weeks gestation, his mother having been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at 12 weeks gestation. She received chemotherapy at 20 weeks gestation and was given intravenous zoledronic acid (ZA) during the second trimester for hypercalcaemia.Presenting problem: At 2.7 years, he fell on a tarmacked surface sustaining a diaphyseal fracture of his...

Objectives: Previously we have shown in healthy pre-pubertal boys that short periods of whole body vibration (WBV) increased the bone formation marker PINP by 25.1% and resorption marker CTX by 10.9%. The aim of this study was to see if otherwise healthy boys with a history of fracture would respond to WBV in the same way.Methods: In addition to 11 pre-pubertal boys measured previously in the same way, 20 pre-pubertal boys aged 7-13 years, who were at le...

Background: Proline and hydroxyproline account for ~25% of aminoacids in collagen., Prolidase (peptidase D (EC 3.4.14.9)), cleaves iminodipeptides with a C-terminal proline or hydroxyproline, playing a major role in collagen catabolism. Mice with prolidase deficiency (PD) present with varied phenotypes including reduced size compared to wild-type littermates. We measured structural and mechanical properties of bones in PD mice.Methods: Whole femurs from ...

Background: At present, clinical assessment of bone strength in children predominantly relies bone mass measurement using absorptiometry (DXA) or QCT densitometric approaches. However, bone strength is not only dependent on mass/density, but also structural and material mechanical properties. Currently no technique measures bone mechanical properties. Recently, a new micro-indentation device, the reference point indentation (RPI) instrument has been validated for the measure o...

Background: Vibration analysis is a well-established technique in industry to analyse materials physical properties. The application to bone’s physical properties is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between bone vibration frequency and mass:volume ratio (ρ).Methods: We used eight turkey bones (tibio tursus). Following soft tissue removal, a 12 cm diaphyseal section was isolated, marrow removed using a water jet and the...