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Osteomalacia - Symptom

Symptoms:

Bone fractures that happen with very little injury
Muscle weakness
Widespread bone pain, especially in the hips

Symptoms may also occur due to low calcium levels. These include:

Abnormal heart rhythms
Numbness around the mouth
Numbness of arms and legs
Spasms of hands or feet

Signs and tests:

Blood tests will be done to check vitamin D, creatinine, calcium, and phosphate levels.

A bone biopsy reveals bone softening.

Bone x-rays and a bone density test can help detect pseudofractures, bone loss, and bone softening.

Other tests may be done to determine if there is a kidney problem or other underlying disorder. These tests include:

Diseased hip

Reviewed last on: 7/15/2008
Robert Cooper, MD, Endocinology Specialist and Chief of Medicine, Holyoke Medical Center, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Wysolmerski JJ. Insogna KL. The Parathyroid Glands, Hypercalcemia, and Hypocalcemia. In: Kronenberg HM, Schlomo M, Polansky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008: chap. 266.

Bringhurst FR, Demay MB, Kronenberg HM. Disorders of Mineral Metabolism. In: Kronenberg HM, Schlomo M, Polansky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008: chap. 27.

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