Treatments for Bone Disorders

What are treatments for bone disorders?
Treatment protocols for bone disorders may include any or all of the following:

• assistive devices, such as casts or crutches
• core decompression
  

  This is a surgical procedure in which the inner layer of bone is removed to:

  • reduce pressure
  • allow for increased blood flow
  • slow or stop bone and/or joint destruction
• osteotomy
  

  This is a surgical procedure to reshape the bone and reduce stress on the affected area.

• bone graft
  

  This is a surgical procedure in which healthy bone is transplanted from another part of the patient's body into the affected area.

• arthroplasty (total joint replacement)
  

  This is a surgical procedure in which the diseased or destroyed joint is replaced with an artificial joint.

• chemotherapy (for cancer)
  

  This is a systemic procedure in which drugs are used to destroy cancer cells.

• surgery (for cancer)
  

  Surgery for cancer may include:

  • biopsy to diagnose and stage the cancer
  • a procedure to remove the cancerous tissue or tumor

  Although limb-sparing surgery normally is the goal, sometimes the extent of the cancer requires that an entire limb be removed, a surgical procedure called amputation.

• radiation therapy (for cancer)
  

  In this procedure, radiation is used to kill cancerous cells. This type of treatment may include:

  • external beam radiation, in which the x-rays are directed into the body from the outside
  • internal radiation, in which radioactive pellets are implanted in the affected area