Osteosclerosis of the clavicle. Causes and main manifestations of osteosclerosis. The spine has three main functions

Osteosclerosis is a change normal structure bone tissue, which consists in the increased density of the latter. Among pathological changes in bones, sclerosis ranks second after osteoporosis.

Why is this condition considered dangerous? Despite the increased density, bones with osteosclerosis lose their elasticity. This leads to the risk of fractures even with minor exposure to a traumatic factor.

What is the essence of pathology

Subchondral osteosclerosis is one of the main manifestations of such degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the musculoskeletal system as osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis, as well as the most common type of bone tissue compaction.

The word “subchondral” should be understood as “subchondral,” that is, bone compaction occurs in those areas that are directly adjacent to the joints affected by the pathological process.

These subchondral areas of bone are called endplates.

Osteosclerosis can also be physiological, for example, in children, increased density is observed in the areas of bone growth (indicated by arrows)

Subchondral sclerosis of articular surfaces does not develop immediately. It appears with the progression of degenerative changes in the joints, if the causative factor is not eliminated and effective treatment is not prescribed.

You can learn more about the causes of osteosclerosis and its types here.

Endplate sclerosis itself does not cause any symptoms; all manifestations are caused by the primary pathology, which causes such changes in the bones. But, nevertheless, compaction of the subchondral areas of bone tissue can cause compression fractures of the vertebral bodies and deformation of the limbs.

Subchondral sclerosis also has diagnostic value, since it is one of the main radiological criteria for deforming osteoarthritis of the joints and osteochondrosis of the spine.

Causes

As it becomes clear, the causes of subchondral osteosclerosis are no different from those with arthrosis and osteochondrosis:

excess weight;
permanent microtrauma of joints (severe physical labor, professional sports);
hypodynamic lifestyle;
staying in one position for a long time;
endocrine and metabolic disorders;
genetic predisposition;
advanced age;
concomitant rheumatological and vascular diseases;
history of trauma;
congenital or acquired pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
unhealthy diet;
poor development of the muscle corset.

Overweight and unhealthy diet - a direct path to arthrosis of the joints and osteochondrosis of the spine

Symptoms of the disease

Signs of subchondral sclerosis depend on the disease that caused changes in the bones, its stage and location.

On initial stages Sclerosis does not manifest itself in any way as degenerative-dystrophic changes and can only be detected by X-ray examination.

As the pathology progresses, characteristic Clinical signs. About the most common types of subchondral osteosclerosis we'll talk further.

Subchondral sclerosis of the spine

Compaction of the bone tissue of the vertebrae is observed with osteochondrosis in the area that is in direct contact with the damaged intervertebral disc.

Manifestations of subchondral sclerosis of the spine depend on the location (cervical, thoracic or lumbar), the degree of damage to the spinal tissue and the presence of complications (intervertebral hernia, narrowing of the spinal canal, pinched nerve roots, etc.).

Patients complain of chronic neck and back pain. From time to time, exacerbations with acute pain syndrome occur. In the later stages, neurological complications and deformations of the spinal column occur, which can cause loss of performance and disability.

MRI of the spine will allow not only to establish the fact of osteosclerosis, but also to find its cause

The main danger of sclerosis of the vertebral bodies is the increased risk of spontaneous compression fractures, which can occur even with minimal physical activity. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the problem as early as possible and do everything possible to prevent its progression and the development of complications.

Osteosclerosis of the hip joint

Such localization of sclerosis almost always complicates the course of arthrosis of the hip joint.

Patients complain of chronic pain in the hip, which first occurs during physical activity and then bothers them at rest.

The range of motion in the joint is gradually limited, and lameness develops.

If the pathological process is not stopped in time, then over time the joint is completely destroyed and the function of the lower limb is lost. Only hip replacement surgery can restore the ability to move independently for such patients.

On the second radiograph, one can note the absence of the joint space of the hip joint and an increase in the density of subchondral bone tissue, which are signs of coxarthrosis

The danger of sclerosis of this localization is the increased risk of such severe pathologies as neck fracture femur and aseptic necrosis of its head. Therefore, when identifying osteosclerosis of the hip joint, it is first necessary to engage in the prevention of possible severe consequences.

Sclerosis of the knee joint

It is detected with the development of deforming osteoarthritis of the knees. Patients complain of pain in the knees during physical activity, and then at rest, crunching when moving, a gradual decrease in their amplitude, deformation of the knees and lower extremities.

A common consequence of subchondral knee sclerosis is the development of varus or hallux valgus deformity(O- and X-shaped legs).

O- and X-shaped deformity of the lower extremities

Osteosclerosis of the shoulder joint

The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile joints in our body. Therefore, it is affected by arthrosis quite often. The development of pathology is indicated by pain during movements, clicking and crunching, and limited amplitude.

Despite the fact that sclerosis shoulder joint is not a cause of severe disability, such as osteosclerosis of the hip or knee joint, it significantly worsens the quality of life of such people due to chronic pain and functional insufficiency of the joint.

Diagnostic methods

The main method of intravital diagnosis of changes in bone tissue, including osteosclerosis, is X-ray examination.

On radiographs good quality You can examine in detail the foci of sclerosis of various locations. But, unfortunately, this is not enough to make a diagnosis. Since first of all it is necessary to identify the cause of bone tissue compaction.

For this purpose, a number of diagnostic procedures are carried out:

MRI or CT;
densitometry (measuring bone density);
laboratory blood and urine tests;
Ultrasound of joints;
genetic tests to exclude hereditary forms of osteosclerosis.

Principles of treatment

Treatment must be comprehensive. It includes the following activities:

Drug therapy. It is used, as a rule, in the presence of exacerbations of arthrosis and osteochondrosis, which are accompanied by severe pain. Medicines from the following groups are used: analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, B vitamins, vasodilators and decongestants, glucocorticoids and local anesthetics for blockades.
Therapeutic gymnastics. It is the main method of treating degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Allows you to strengthen muscles that will protect and support damaged joints.
Massage and other manual techniques for influencing joints ( manual therapy, osteopathy, post-isometric relaxation).
Various physiotherapeutic procedures (laser, ultrasound therapy, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, UHF, balneotherapy, therapeutic mud, spinal traction, etc.).
Diet food.

It is important to understand that you cannot get rid of osteosclerosis, you can only slow down the pathological process or stop it.

Therefore, at the first alarming symptoms it is necessary to seek specialized medical help to establish a diagnosis and create an optimal prevention and treatment program.

This is the only way to protect yourself from the severe consequences of subchondral osteosclerosis.

Source: http://MoyaSpina.ru/bolezni/subhondralnyy-osteoskleroz

Subchondral osteosclerosis of articular surfaces and spine: symptoms and treatment

One of the signs of osteoarthritis, along with the destruction of the cartilaginous surface of the joint and damage to the periarticular ligaments and muscles, is subchondral osteosclerosis.

This is an increase in the density of the area of the bone lying immediately under the cartilaginous part. This condition develops due to an increase in mechanical load on bone tissue.

This overload occurs when the cartilage lining the joint capsule degenerates.

Subchondral osteosclerosis

Reasons for development

Subchondral osteosclerosis is not a disease, but a morphological, that is, structural change. It is caused by osteoarthritis, a progressive joint disease accompanied by wear and tear of the articular cartilage.

The direct cause of subchondral osteosclerosis is changes in the joint caused by congenital weakness (dysplasia), trauma or an autoimmune inflammatory process (for example, rheumatoid arthritis).

Reasons for the development of osteosclerosis

Factors that increase the likelihood of pathology:

obesity;
genetic predisposition;
gout;
previous joint surgeries;
pathological menopause.

Subchondral osteosclerosis occurs on late stage osteoarthritis. At this time, the cartilage has already been destroyed, and the exposed bone surfaces begin to rub against each other. As a result, they become damaged and uneven.

The processes of bone formation begin to prevail over the physiological destruction of bone tissue. The tissue lying directly under the epiphysis (the end of the bone) thickens and remodels.

Clinical and radiological signs of osteosclerosis appear.

Symptoms of subchondral osteosclerosis

A sign of hardening of the bone tissue under the articular surface of the bone is pain. Its characteristics vary depending on the underlying mechanism of occurrence.

The strength of the bones is provided by microscopic tubes - beams intertwined with each other.

When the shock-absorbing cartilage is destroyed, the entire load falls on the bone. As a result, the beams are deformed.

Bone remodeling irritates the pain receptors in the periosteum and causes pain.

Pain syndrome occurs after loading the joint, mainly in the evening. In addition, it interferes with the patient’s walking and prolonged standing. After a night's rest, the intensity of the pain decreases or disappears altogether.

Bone overload leads to dilation of the choroid plexuses and stagnation venous blood. This causes irritation of the receptors of the vascular wall and leads to the appearance of prolonged night pain that is bursting in nature.

Symptoms of subchondral osteosclerosis

Subchondral osteosclerosis is diagnosed using radiography and computed tomography bones. X-ray signs this pathology:

the bone substance becomes finely looped, small partitions - trabeculae - are visible in it, the reason for this change in structure is the restructuring of the processes of bone formation and resorption;
the superficial (cortical) layer thickens and becomes uneven;
the lumen of the bone marrow canal narrows, up to its complete obliteration (overgrowth);
the shadow of the pineal gland becomes bright and contrasts with the surrounding tissues.

Magnetic resonance imaging is rarely used to diagnose subchondral osteosclerosis. This technique is informative for recognizing lesions in organs rich in water. There is little fluid in the bone tissue, so an MRI may not reveal all the changes.

Treatment of osteosclerosis of the hip and other joints

Osteosclerosis is a symptom of osteoarthritis, so the underlying disease should be treated to slow its progression.

Principles of treatment of osteoarthritis:

weight loss;
physiotherapy;
limiting the load on the affected joint;
taking chondroprotectors and painkillers.

All these measures can only alleviate symptoms and temporarily slow down the development of pathology.

Joint endoprosthetics is the main method of treating osteoarthritis; it also helps to get rid of subchondral osteosclerosis.

Treatment of osteosclerosis of the hip and other joints

To reduce the intensity of pain caused by osteosclerosis, doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs.

They reduce blood flow and reduce the release of pro-inflammatory substances.

Groups of medicinal substances used:

Based on this table, you can select drugs of different pharmacological groups, relieving joint pain.

Many of the listed medications are available not only in tablets, but also in the form of injection solutions. Intramuscular administration indicated for acute pain syndrome, for permanent use Tablets and capsules are suitable.

Some NSAIDs are available in suppository form. Their effectiveness is often higher than that of tablets. However bad influence on the gastrointestinal tract persists.

It is useful to use ointments with anesthetic and vascular components (troxevasin, fastum-gel and others). Local treatment osteosclerosis is recommended to be supplemented with massage of the affected area, which reduces swelling and bone remodeling.

Treatment of subchondral osteosclerosis of the spine

Subchondral osteosclerosis of the vertebrae occurs in severe cases osteoarthritis of the spine. To relieve its symptoms, the following methods are used:

drug treatment, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors;
physiotherapy: treatment with a magnetic field, ultrasound, administration of painkillers into the paravertebral tissues using electrophoresis;
underwater traction, medicinal baths, circular shower;
massage;
physical therapy aimed at strengthening the back muscles.

Treatment of subchondral osteosclerosis of the spine

In severe cases, surgical treatment is possible: implantation of an artificial vertebra or denervation to eliminate pain.

Subchondral osteosclerosis is a hardening of the bone area under the articular cartilage. It occurs when there is excessive load on the bone tissue due to the destruction of the cartilage layer lining the joints. The cause of this condition is osteoarthritis.

Osteosclerosis most often develops in the hip, knee or 1st metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot.

It manifests itself as a pain syndrome, for the relief of which anti-inflammatory and cartilage-restoring drugs, physiotherapy, massage and special gymnastics are used.

In severe cases, an operation is performed to replace the joint with an artificial one – endoprosthetics.

Source: http://sustavu.ru/oda/subhondralnyj-osteoskleroz.html

Subchondral bone is that part of the human skeleton that performs two important functions. Its cavity contains the spinal cord and regenerating white and red blood cells.

And also its expanded part is a strong foundation for articular cartilage, and, thanks to its rich blood flow, maintains its structure and normal trophism.

Subchondral osteosclerosis – pathological condition bone disease, in which excessive formation of bone tissue occurs, increasing its density, and leading to a decrease in the medullary canal.

The mechanism of osteosclerosis

What is osteosclerosis, and how does the formation of excess bone substance occur? In skeletal tissue, processes of destruction and renewal are constantly ongoing. Special cells are responsible for this - osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Under the influence of osteoblasts, new bone tissue is formed, and they also help calcium salts to be deposited in the intercellular substance. Osteoclasts, in turn, remove tissue cells by dissolving calcium and collagen.

In the body, these responsible cells work together under the influence of complex hormonal regulation, so that bone tissue remains unchanged.

But there comes a certain point, and the action of osteoclasts, that is, cells that destroy bone tissue, becomes less pronounced than osteoblasts, and the bone tissue begins to grow and thicken.

Note!

A paradox arises here - despite the fact that the bone tissue becomes denser, it becomes more fragile. This can be compared to cast iron and steel.

Cast iron is much denser than steel, but it can break if struck.

In people suffering from osteosclerosis, one of the signs of the disease is frequent fractures.

This pathology is also dangerous because the bone tissue, growing inward, replaces the bone marrow and prevents it from functioning normally. Therefore, quite often the disease is accompanied by anemia.

Subchondral pathology

Subchondral osteosclerosis is not an independent disease. It occurs either as a result of age-related changes in bones, or is a manifestation of an underlying pathology, most often osteoarthritis.

Read also: Symptoms and treatment of vertebral sacralization

This medical term defines a group of diseases that are similar in their morphological and clinical manifestations.

When a disease occurs, the pathology process involves:

subchondral bone;
articular cartilage;
capsule;
ligaments;
muscles;
synovial membrane.

Main clinical manifestations Osteoarthritis is bone deformation and pain when moving.

The essence of the pathology is a change in cartilage, accompanied by an inflammatory process.

During the course of the disease, either one joint or a generalized lesion of all major joints (polyostearthrosis) may be affected.

Most often the disease affects:

first joint of the foot;
hand joints;
spine;
hip and knee joints.

The most severe forms involve damage to the cervical, lumbar spine, knees, and hip part of the skeleton.

The most common types of pathology, depending on the location, received separate definitions:

gonarthrosis (another Greek “knee”) – arthrosis knee joint;
coxarthrosis (Latin “hip”) - arthrosis of the hip joint;
Osteochondrosis (ancient Greek: “cartilage”) – dystrophic pathologies in cartilage, most often affecting intervertebral discs.

Sclerotic changes in the bone during the disease can only be determined using radiography. During diagnosis, the affected areas are visible as darkening in the pictures.

Causes and risk factors

Osteoarthritis is a multifactorial disease, but there are three main causes:

dysplasia;
injury;
inflammation.

In the primary form of the disease, the main risk factors are hereditary mutations and disorders. A person's gender and race may play a role.

Among the non-hereditary causes are the following:

overweight;
age;
specific type of activity;
hypothermia;
injuries, or frequent microtraumas;
action of toxins;
surgical intervention.

Osteoarthritis can also be caused by various disorders body functions:

endocrine disorders;
deficiency of microelements in the body;
metabolic disorders;
neurodystrophic manifestations in the spine.

A fairly common cause is dysplasia, or a disorder of bone development, as well as various acquired diseases of the joints and bones.

Knee joint damage

Besides pain, subchondral osteosclerosis of the articular surfaces is accompanied by a characteristic crunch during movement and stiffness.

With gonarthrosis, degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in the knee joint, and the ending “oz” indicates that in in this case no inflammation. With an inflammatory process, the condition of the knee joint would be defined as gonarthritis.

The load that is imparted to a person by the gravity of the earth is absorbed by the joints.

The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints, which consists of two subchondral bones - the femur and the tibia.

Inside it there are cartilage layers - menisci, which play the role of shock absorbers during movement.

If these cartilage pieces wear out or are damaged by injury, new ones do not grow.

The amount of interarticular fluid decreases, so the bones simply begin to rub against each other, inflammation occurs, which ultimately leads to the formation of excess bone tissue and their deformation.

Damage to the hip joint

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint occupies a leading place among diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as it affects critical connection human bones.

The mechanism of damage is the same as for knee joints - cartilage is damaged and disappears synovial fluid. When the limb moves, severe pain occurs.

Often the disease occurs in people who actively play sports or are on their feet all the time.

Often sclerotic changes in the femur are preceded by a disease such as aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, which is asymptomatic.

Signs appear when the head of the bone is already destroyed. Therefore, osteosclerosis of the hip joint is best treated in the early stages, when conservative treatment is still indicated.

At stages 3-4, treatment can only be surgical.

Subchondral osteosclerosis of the articular surfaces can lead to complete loss limb functions, and, consequently, loss of human performance.

Spinal lesion

Existing osteosclerosis of the spine is expressed by pain when turning the head to the sides. This is explained by pinched nerves between the vertebrae.

The spine has three main functions:

supporting;
protective, as it protects the spinal cord;
depreciation

Depreciation occurs due to ligaments of intervertebral discs, which prevent the vertebrae from touching when walking and moving.

When fiber separation and microtears occur, a change occurs in the vertebrae themselves - spondylosis, in which the growing edges of the vertebrae reduce the openings through which the spinal nerves pass.

The overgrown vertebrae themselves begin to irritate the nerve, and hence the pain.

Read also: Symptoms and treatment of lumbago syndrome at home

Osteosclerosis of the spine is also dangerous because it increases the risk of developing an intervertebral hernia.

This is essentially a softened intervertebral disc protruding outward between the vertebrae.

This also leads to pinched nerves, but if we are talking about the cervical spine, then the pain rushes to the arm.

Interesting! Depending on which finger is painful and numb, a neurologist can determine in which vertebra the changes are occurring.

Altered by osteosclerosis cervical vertebrae may be the cause of vertebrobasilar disease, in which the paired bony artery is irritated. It is responsible for blood circulation in the brain and, accordingly, for arterial pressure, heart rhythm, and vestibular stability.

Treatment of osteosclerosis

Treatment of bone changes in some cases is difficult due to the patient’s delay in seeking help.

Since at the initial stage of the disease there are no bright severe symptoms, a doctor is consulted when the joints or spine can no longer function normally.

In severe cases it is indicated surgical intervention, replacement of interarticular fluid and interarticular cartilage with implants.

If we talk about the treatment of atherosclerosis itself, then it is necessary to treat a disease, the manifestation of which is a change in bone tissue.

Osteosclerosis is difficult to treat when the cavity of the subchondral bone is overgrown with bone tissue. Immunity deficiency occurs as the bone marrow, where white blood cells are born, becomes overgrown.

Inflammatory processes often occur against this background, so anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting drugs are prescribed during treatment.

In especially severe cases, it is even necessary to resort to bone marrow transplantation.

Among the methods general therapy physiotherapy, massage and therapeutic exercises are prescribed, which are carried out under the supervision of a specialist. In case of severe pain, painkillers and drugs to relieve muscle spasms may be prescribed.

In order not to start the process of bone change, it is important to listen to your own body, because pain is his defensive reaction, which does not happen without a reason. And the most important thing is to remember that the best cure for any disease is prevention.

While undergoing examination skeletal system, many people hear an unfamiliar term - osteosclerosis. And this is not surprising, because this condition ranks second among pathologies bone structure after . However, it cannot be considered an independent disease, and such a diagnosis does not exist. In most cases, osteosclerosis is a sign of one or another pathology, and what caused the bone changes remains to be determined by the doctor.

The essence of pathology

Osteosclerosis is characterized by compaction of bone tissue, which develops when the balance between the processes of its synthesis and destruction shifts towards the former. The distance between the trabeculae decreases, their number increases, and they themselves thicken. The compact substance becomes even denser and grows, protruding not only outward, but also inward - into the medullary canal. This, in particular, leads to the formation of hook-shaped growths - - which are often detected in degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the joints and spine.

Basically, the part of the bone that is located closer to the articular surface becomes denser, so osteosclerosis is more often subchondral. This also applies to the spine, when the endplates, important parts of the motor segments, are affected. axial skeleton. They separate the vertebral bodies from the fibrous capsule of the discs, representing a kind of transitional structure. And in the movable joints, the tissue lying under the cartilaginous surfaces is sclerosed, covering the epiphysis (end section) and even the metaphysis (growth zone). Because of this, the bones become less elastic, which often leads to fractures.

Causes

The development of sclerosis in bone tissue is provoked by many factors – both external and internal. Compaction of subchondral areas is observed when exposed to mechanical force (excessive and prolonged pressure), as a result of inflammatory, degenerative, tumor or other processes. A major role in this is played by metabolic changes, cytokine stimulation, defects in vascular trophism, gene mutations. Thus, osteosclerosis can be considered as a sign of the following pathology:

Osteochondrosis and spondylosis.
Osteomyelitis, abscesses.
Tuberculosis, syphilis.
Metastases in cancer.
Pathology of hematopoiesis (myelofibrosis).
Hereditary diseases (melorheostosis, osteopoikilia, etc.).
Lead and strontium intoxication.

Often signs of osteosclerosis are observed at the site of the fracture - this is a compensatory reaction of the bone aimed at eliminating damage and restoring its own structure. In addition, risk factors for this condition are:

Overweight.
Sports loads.
Posture disorders.
Hormonal disorders.
Bad habits.
Operations on bones.

But in addition to pathological conditions, activation of osteoblast function is also observed in physiological conditions, for example, in children during a period of intensive growth. Therefore, great importance in the practice of a traumatologist is given to differential diagnosis osteosclerosis.

Osteosclerosis is not an independent pathology, but often accompanies various diseases that affect bone tissue.

Classification

Like many pathological processes, the proliferation of bone tissue has certain characteristics that are reflected in the classification. Firstly, there is a division of osteosclerosis based on its origin:

Physiological or pathological.
Congenital (hereditary) or acquired.
Inflammatory and post-traumatic.
Reactive and toxic.
Idiopathic.

Identifying the cause is impossible without additional research confirming bone remodeling and establishing primary focus pathology. Visualization tools make it possible to determine the form of osteosclerosis:

Spotted - small or large foci of increased density (single or multiple).
Local (limited) – observed between healthy and damaged tissue.
Widespread (systemic) – affects several bones at once.

The latter is mainly observed when hereditary diseases and in the background chronic pathology which has taken a severe or advanced course.

Symptoms

Subchondral osteosclerosis is difficult to detect in the initial stages, because it does not manifest itself at all. An asymptomatic course does not allow for early correction of bone disorders, because patients who have practically no worries are unlikely to come to the doctor. But the primary pathological process will continue to develop, which will lead to the appearance of nonspecific signs:

Increased fatigue.
Aching pain in the limbs or back, aggravated by exercise.
Decreased physical activity.

Osteosclerosis of the hip joint is manifested by constant pain that occurs with prolonged sitting or walking, spreading to. If you do not reduce the load on lower limbs, then the situation may worsen in the future, because there is a high probability of developing fractures. Then the clinical picture will be much brighter.

At inflammatory diseases Other signs accompanying osteosclerosis are also possible: redness of the skin, swelling, pain during palpation. Degenerative diseases are characterized by stiffness and, in many cases, stiffness develops and bone deformities appear.

If the spine is affected, then a common sign of osteosclerosis is the spine, for example, kyphosis or lordosis. Bone thickenings, which accompany disc herniations, are an important factor in the formation of compression radiculopathy. In turn, compression of the nerve roots is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Decreased sensitivity.
Numbness, tingling, burning.
Muscle weakness.
Changes in tendon reflexes.

At hereditary diseases bone abnormalities can occur in isolation, but more often in combination with pathology of other body systems. The first signs are usually observed in early childhood.

Clinical picture osteosclerosis is quite diverse - it all depends on its cause and morphological form.

Diagnostics

Assume osteosclerosis of the spine or joints based on clinical symptoms quite difficult, because it corresponds to many diseases. Therefore, exclusively important In diagnostics, additional methods are used that allow visual assessment of bone density in individual areas of the skeleton. This is possible thanks to the following research:

Radiography.
Tomography (computer and magnetic resonance imaging).

Biochemical tests that show serum concentrations of calcium, hormones, inflammatory markers and indicators of bone remodeling play a certain role ( alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin). To identify hereditary mutations, genetic polymorphism is determined using polymerase chain reaction.

Treatment

Therapeutic tactics for osteosclerosis depend on the underlying disease. This takes into account the nature of the pathological process, its severity and prevalence. It is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the patient himself and the presence of other diseases. Treatment should be individualized, but at the same time based on standards of care.

Conservative therapy

For elimination unpleasant symptoms and improvement of metabolic processes in bone tissue are used conservative methods. They are also applicable as an effect on the cause of osteosclerosis. Traditionally, medications are the first link in therapy:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Muscle relaxants.
Chondroprotectors.
Vascular.
Vitamins.

At infectious inflammation Antibiotics must be used, and osteosclerosis of a tumor nature is treated with cytostatics. Along with this, non-drug remedies are widely popular:

Physiotherapy.
Massage.
Physiotherapy.
Orthopedic correction.

Diet helps reduce the load on the skeleton by removing excess weight, and also speeds up the process of bone restoration. It is based on the principles healthy eating in conjunction with individual recommendations doctor

Conservative treatment allows you to slow down the progression of osteosclerosis and protects the patient from complications.

Operation

Non-invasive techniques, although they have good effect, but still cannot remove the resulting bone growths. If they reach large sizes When a limb is severely deformed, the joints cannot work normally, and the nerves are pinched, then you have to think about surgical correction. Those foci of osteosclerosis that are directly adjacent to the destroyed areas (with osteomyelitis, tumors) are also removed. In the case of myelofibrosis, a bone marrow transplant is indicated.

What reason would not lead to osteosclerosis, best results shows early treatment. But for this you need to consult a doctor in time - even the presence of risk factors alone is grounds for examination. This way you can protect yourself from many troubles and maintain healthy physical activity.

Osteosclerosis is a pathological process in bone tissue, accompanied by its compaction. According to ICD-10, the disease has code M85.8. This is enough common problem, ranking second after osteoporosis. The peculiarity of the pathology is a long asymptomatic period, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment. Traumatologists and orthopedists deal with this disease.

The essence of pathology

Osteosclerosis – what is it? With the disease, bone tissue becomes pathologically compacted. The outcome may be complete closure of the medullary canal and transformation of the bone into a single structure. This causes circulatory problems, disorder motor function, changes in the blood. The size of the bone itself does not change.

Interesting!
The disease affects the entire body, since the bone marrow performs important functions hematopoiesis and immune support.

Reasons for development

Causes of bone sclerosis:

Genetic predisposition;
Chronic infections in the body;
Overweight;
Concomitant diseases of bone tissue;
Increased physical activity;
Frequent injuries.

Foci of osteosclerosis can arise around malignant tumors and their metastases.

Kinds

Based causative factor a classification of bone sclerosis is being constructed:

Idiopathic – with an unspecified cause;
Inflammatory - due to infectious lesion bones;
Post-traumatic – due to increased bone growth after injury;
Toxic – as a result of exposure to various toxins;
Genetic.

There is such a form as physiological osteosclerosis - it occurs in children during the period of intensive formation of bone tissue.

The pathological process can be localized directly in the bone tissue or in the joints where the bone connects to the cartilage tissue. In this case, they talk about the development of subchondral osteosclerosis. This form is characterized by more rapid violation motor function of the limb.

Depending on the location of the pathological process, there are:

Damage to the hip joint;
Osteosclerosis of the ilium;
Osteosclerosis of the femur;
Damage to the knee joint;
Damage to the ankle joint;
Damage to the legs.

If the pathological process involves one bone, they speak of local osteosclerosis. If there are many foci in different areas- This is a diffuse lesion.

Manifestations

Symptoms of the disease depend on the location of the pathological focus and the severity of changes in the bone. Characteristic feature is the absence of any external signs pathology.

When the hip joint is affected, a person complains of pain when sitting or walking for long periods of time. The gait becomes lame. Signs of osteosclerosis of the ilium may indicate the onset of ankylosing spondylitis.

Osteosclerosis of the knee joint manifests itself as pain when standing, walking, or running. The outcome of the disease is complete immobility of the knee.

Damage to the bones of the foot is accompanied by the development of flat feet and pain when walking. The range of movements is significantly reduced.

Osteosclerosis of the articular surfaces is manifested by pain when making any movements. The pathological process quickly leads to immobility of the joint.

Congenital forms of pathology

Genetically determined osteosclerosis appears almost immediately after the birth of a child. There are several types of pathology:

Osteopetrosis – the size of the head is significantly increased compared to the size of the body. Ultrasound reveals hydrocephalus. X-rays show compacted bones of the skull. Internal organs are also affected - changes in the liver and spleen are observed. Compression by the bones of the skull nerve fibers leads to hearing and vision impairment;
Dysosteosclerosis manifests itself in early childhood. Since lesions are found in all bones, the child is stunted in growth and has hearing, vision and speech impairments. Due to damage to tooth enamel, multiple caries develops;
Pycnodysosis - accompanied by damage to the bones of the facial skull. Therefore, the child’s face has a specific appearance - large frontal tubercles, massive lower jaw, wide-set eyes. Sometimes shortening of the upper limbs is observed;
Sclerosteosis. Almost all bones are affected. Craniofacial deformities and underdevelopment of limbs are observed;
Melorheostosis, or Leri's disease. Osteosclerosis affects one bone or several bones of one limb. Typical symptoms are pain, muscle weakness. The disease leads to calcification and fibrosis of soft tissues, which causes immobility of the limbs.

Children with congenital forms diseases quickly become disabled.

Acquired forms

Some types of osteosclerosis develop in people already in adulthood:

Paget's disease. Typically for men over 40 years of age. It can be asymptomatic for a long time. Stiffness of the joints gradually develops until they are completely fused;
. It is also mostly men who get sick. Long tubular bones are affected. First, a focus of inflammation appears in the bone, then the tissue around it thickens. The person is being bothered intense pain, worse at night;
Brody's abscess. The most commonly affected bone is the femur or tibia. An abscess forms in the bone tissue, caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The disease manifests itself as unexpressed pain.

Osteosclerosis promotes frequent occurrence fractures, as the bone loses its elasticity and elasticity. If such a symptom is present, it is necessary to conduct an appropriate examination.

Complications

Osteosclerosis is accompanied by increased bone fragility. Therefore, the most a common complication are fractures that occur under light load.

A complication characteristic of osteosclerosis of the hip joint is aseptic necrosis of the femoral head.

The outcome of all forms of the disease is impaired motor function, the formation of joint and muscle contractures.

Diagnostic methods

The main diagnostic method is x-ray examination. On an x-ray, foci of osteosclerosis look like this:

Reducing the cellularity of bone tissue;
Thickening of the cortical bone;
Narrowing of the lumen of the bone marrow canal.

Foci of osteosclerosis in the bone can be distributed evenly or chaotically. Therefore, uniform and variegated forms of the disease are distinguished.

Lesions in some congenital and acquired forms have specific signs:

With melorheostosis, the lesion resembles drops of flowing wax;
Garre's osteomyelitis is accompanied by fusiform thickening of the bone;
Brodie's abscess appears as a round lump with clear boundaries.
Laboratory diagnostic methods are not indicative.

Therapeutic measures

Treatment of osteosclerosis is carried out comprehensively. Conservative and surgical methods are used. Timely initiation of treatment is of great importance to prevent the development of complications.

Diet

Dairy and fermented milk products;
Cheese, cottage cheese;
Eggs.

It is useful to eat greens in large quantities, fruits and vegetables. The diet should include a sufficient amount of protein - eat meat and fish daily.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for osteosclerosis is aimed at eliminating symptoms. The cause of the disease cannot be influenced with drugs, but its progression can be slowed down. Drugs from different groups are used:

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). They have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Prescribed drugs such as Nimica, Ibuprofen, Movalis. Used for oral, external and intramuscular injections;
Glucocorticoids. Indicated for intense inflammation and rapid progression of the disease. The drug Prednisolone is prescribed according to a special increasing-decreasing scheme;
When the lesion is localized in the joint area, drugs with a chondroprotective effect are prescribed - Artra, Teraflex. They are taken for a long time, since the effect does not develop immediately. These medications allow you to restore cartilage tissue and protect it from further destruction;
Vitamin and mineral complexes. Necessary for improving blood circulation in tissues.

When anemia develops due to bone marrow damage, iron supplements and folic acid are prescribed.

Surgery

The operation is indicated if the bone marrow canals completely disappear and a significant area of the bone is affected. This is the most common way to treat osteosclerosis of the hip joint, since in this case a motor disorder often develops.

If the body of the bone is affected, the lesions are excised and, if necessary, bone grafting is performed. The destruction of joints requires their replacement with artificial ones. The operation does not provide a guarantee complete cure, since foci of osteosclerosis can form again in other bones.

Massage and exercise therapy

These are two mandatory stages in the treatment of osteosclerosis. Massage and physiotherapy necessary for the prevention of movement disorders, improvement of tissue microcirculation, strengthening of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures are actively used in the treatment of osteosclerosis:

Electrophoresis;
Magnetotherapy;
Mud baths;
Paraffin and ozokerite applications.

Physiotherapy is carried out in courses of 10-15 procedures.

Osteosclerosis is a chronic and incurable disease. The prognosis is relatively favorable - subject to ongoing treatment. Without treatment, various complications can develop, some of them very severe. Specific prevention this disease does not exist.

Osteosclerosis literally means a pathological increase in bone density, causing it to have little bone marrow and a predominance of compact, hard substance. The bone partitions (trabeculae) thicken, the spongy bone substance acquires a structure in the form of elongated narrow loops, and the bones become deformed. This phenomenon is exactly the opposite of osteoporosis. It would seem that there is nothing bad in dense bone, but this is far from the case: bone strength with osteosclerosis is greatly reduced, and the pathology itself is accompanied by a number of unpleasant symptoms and changes in the internal organs. The long tubular bones of the extremities and ilium, however, osteosclerosis of the spine and even the jaw is also possible.

Physiological and pathological osteosclerosis

Osteosclerosis is a rarely observed symptom that may be caused by physiological characteristics in children's and teenage years when the skeleton is growing rapidly, and a focus of osteosclerosis with increased density is observed in the growth zone. In this case, it is not considered a pathology, since these phenomena disappear when growth stops.

In medicine, the term “osteosclerosis” usually refers to a pathological condition of the bone in which it has excess mass, which occurs as a result of certain hereditary, degenerative and oncological diseases.

Causes of osteosclerosis

Symptoms of osteosclerosis are observed with osteoarthritis, bone metastases, as well as with the following congenital diseases family hereditary type:

osteopetrosis (Albers-Schoenberg disease or);
Leri's disease (melorheostosis);
osteopoikilia (ostepoikilosis);
myelofibrosis.

If you dig deeper

The pathogenesis of excess bone mass is determined by the dysfunction of osteoclasts, while these cells themselves, due to which resorption occurs, that is, bone destruction, can be either small or sufficient, and even more than normal. The mechanism of primary osteogenesis disorder itself still remains unknown. It has been noted that a phenomenon such as osteosclerosis is accompanied by a deficiency of a special osteoclast enzyme (carbonic anhydrase), due to which they stop pumping calcium salts from the joint into the blood, and their excessive deposition in the bones begins.

Symptoms of osteosclerosis

Let's take a closer look at the symptoms of each disease that can cause osteosclerosis of the spine.

Osteopetrosis

It is observed:

diffuse osteosclerosis;
frequent pathological fractures that heal poorly due to sclerosis of the bone canal;
hypochromic anemia (in childhood);
enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes;
decreased height and deformation of the vertebrae;
compacted and deformed areas of the ribs and the base of the skull;
if the base of the skull is affected, hydrocephalus is possible;
when nerve branches are compressed by deformed bones - paralysis of the limbs, ophthalmological disorders (strabismus, impaired convergence, nystagmus, nerve atrophy and other disorders), hearing problems.

Osteopetrosis in children

Newborns with osteopetrosis may experience:

complete blindness or very poor vision;
late appearance of teeth;
teeth are easily susceptible to caries and periodontal disease;
Dental problems are often combined with osteomyelitis or necrosis.

Melorheostosis

This is a congenital focal bone dysplasia of a benign nature, affecting unilaterally the arm or leg, rarely the spine (vertebral bodies) and the skull (mainly the lower jaw).

This creates:

dull aching pain in bones and muscles;
bone deformities;
restrictions on motor functions;
contractures.

X-ray shows:

white stripes (dense bone areas, opaque to x-rays), resembling melted wax in shape;
neighboring areas bordering the affected lesion without changes or with minor signs.

In the photo: Right-sided melorheostosis of the spine (a wavy line of deformation of the vertebrae is visible, resembling frozen wax).

Ostepoikilosis (spotty multiple osteosclerosis)

The disease is observed very rarely, mainly affecting the short bones of the foot and hand (tarsals, carpals), as well as end sections long tubular bones(epiphyses) of the humerus or femur with adjacent metaphyses. Young people and adolescents are susceptible to the disease.

It manifests itself in the heterogeneous structure of the bones: many round spots or stripes of the same size are noticeable on them (from small two-millimeter to two-centimeter).

The picture of the pathology resembles melorheostosis, but with osteopoikilosis there is no pain, deformation, functional limitations and other symptoms. As a rule, pathology is detected during examination for other diseases completely by chance.

Chronic myelofibrosis (myeloid metaplasia)

This is a rare, serious stem cell pathology that usually first appears in old age, after 60 years.

Its causes are unknown, but the provoking factor may be partly irradiation, exposure chemical substances(eg benzene).

Symptoms other than typical signs osteosclerosis, with myelofibrosis the following:

abnormal enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly): it is so large that it affects the size of the abdomen;
V in rare cases enlargement of the liver and lymph nodes (with hepatomegaly, splenomegaly is usually not observed);
proliferation blood vessels and bone marrow cells;
autoimmune disorders manifested in the presence of rheumatoid factor, autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia;
autonomic disorders (sweating, hot flashes);
constant fatigue;
cachexia (severe exhaustion).

The disease affects the proximal (middle) sections of long tubular bones, areas of the spine, ribs, and skull.

Sometimes a routine examination (ultrasound, blood test) helps to identify pathology:

Ultrasound shows an enlarged spleen.
The level of platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes in the blood is reduced (in a quarter of patients the decrease in these indicators is moderate).
One tenth of patients have polycythemia vera (hyperplasia of bone marrow cells) with an increase in the number of red blood cells, blood viscosity and thrombus formation.
The appearance of nucleated cellular components, myelocytes, and immature bone marrow cells (myeloblasts) is also possible.

Subchondral osteosclerosis

Manifestations of osteosclerosis are also possible in pathologies such as deforming osteoarthritis:

at the second or third stage of the process, the subchondral bone is affected;
to patch up damage, the body locally inhibits the functions of osteoclasts;
the subchondral bone becomes denser and osteosclerosis develops in it.

Symptoms of osteonecrosis can be observed with osteoarthritis of the spine at the stage of destruction intervertebral discs and hyaline cartilage of the vertebrae. In addition to compensatory osteophytes growing along the edges, an osteosclerotic process can be observed in the vertebral bodies: they flatten, become barrel-shaped or concave, the density of the compact solid substance increases, and the end plates are deformed.

Osteoarthritis of the spine is usually a consequence of systemic disease, often also caused by hereditary factors. It affects not only the joints of the vertebrae, but even the ribs, since their areas attached to the sternum consist of cartilage. When arthrosis devours cartilage, to prevent the possibility of permanent subluxation of the ribs, local sclerosis of the ribs occurs, and they form a tight, immovable connection with the sternum.

Osteosclerosis with metastases in the spine

Benign osteosclerosis of the vertebrae is a rather rare phenomenon for the spine, which cannot be said about bone metastases, which often target vertebrae and ribs. Therefore, if the patient lung cancer, prostate gland, lymphogranulomatosis, and he is diagnosed with osteosclerosis of the vertebrae (especially the upper thoracic), then there is a high probability of osteoblastic metastases. (In breast cancer, metastases in women develop predominantly osteoclastic, that is, not with compaction, but with a decrease in bone density). However, before staging accurate diagnosis the doctor calls the detected changes in the vertebrae osteosclerosis.

Diagnosis of osteosclerotic pathologies

The fundamental research methods are radiographic (X-ray, CT or MRI) and laboratory. A bone marrow biopsy may also be needed. Osteosclerotic diseases can be confused with each other (for example, marble disease with melorheostosis), as well as with other diseases: hypoparathyroidism, osteoblastic metastases, hypervitaminosis vit. D, lymphoma, Paget's disease, Hodgkin's disease, etc. Differential diagnostics are carried out to determine the differences.

With myeloma, bone thinning occurs rather than thickening, plus malignant plasmacytosis is observed.
Hypervitaminosis is accompanied by an increase in the vitamin content in the serum.
Metastases are usually heterogeneous in size and occur mainly in old age, in contrast to osteosclerotic lesions observed almost from the womb.

How to treat spinal osteosclerosis

Myeloid metaplasia (myelofibrosis), as well as marble disease (osteopetrosis), can only be cured with stem cell transplantation. Otherwise, this is purely symptomatic and preventive treatment with corticosteroid and renal hormones (glycoproteins), interferon gamma and other drugs.

Symptomatic treatment of osteopetrosis and chronic myelofibrosis

Corticosteroids are used to increase bone resorption and thereby reduce bone density.
Glycoproteins, which include, for example, hematopoietin, are needed to prevent anemia.
Interferon gamma inhibits bone dysplasia and protects against viral infections.
In case of complicated course of congenital childhood osteosclerosis, vitamin D intake is combined with interferon gamma, or treatment is carried out with one of these drugs.

Maintenance treatment

Maintenance treatment with constant monitoring by an orthopedic surgeon is also necessary:

Therapeutic exercises for the prevention of spinal deformities with the exception of stress on the diseased area.
A massage that relaxes muscles with increased tonic tension.
to relieve fatigue and back pain.
Water treatments, swimming.

How to treat osteosclerosis in other cases

For melorheostosis, only symptomatic treatment, sometimes operating room, if a spinal nerve is compressed by a deformed vertebra.
With osteopoikilosis, due to the absence of symptoms, treatment is not required. You just need to monitor, limit stress, and protect yourself from bruises and falls to reduce the risk of a pathological fracture.
Subchondral osteosclerosis, which develops against the background of deforming osteoarthritis, is usually not identified as a separate diagnosis: it is considered one of the symptoms of arthrosis. Treatment is carried out in terms of a single complex therapy

Osteosclerosis - that's what it's called pathological change bone structures. It is found in diagnoses of older people, professional athletes and more. What provokes such processes in the body?

What is osteosclerosis?

Osteosclerosis - what is it? This is a disease of bone tissue, which is manifested by an increase in the density of the bone structure, as well as a narrowing of the bone marrow canal in volume. In severe forms of the process, the bone marrow canal is completely closed, and the bone acquires a homogeneous structure.

Develops as a result of impaired blood supply, the presence of a tumor or chronic infection. X-ray - the only way defining the disease to make a diagnosis. On an x-ray, the affected areas of the bone are darker compared to healthy bone. When examining the bones affected by the disease in the picture, they look strong, but this impression is deceptive. Osteosclerosis reduces bone elasticity, quality and mechanical function, increasing fragility.

Types of osteosclerosis

Osteosclerosis is distinguished by localization:

Local. Area of osteosclerosis small size This is basically where the bones are broken.
Limited. Develops at the border between healthy bone and lesion chronic inflammation, for example, with syphilis or osteomyelitis.
Common - involves the bones of one or more limbs.
Systemic. It is found in diseases of different nature, including genetic ones. The entire bone mass is affected.

Osteosclerosis is divided into three main types depending on the cause of its occurrence:

Physiological. Develops in childhood, during the formation and growth of the skeleton. Reason - birth defects development of bone tissue.
Post-traumatic. It is observed in the pathology of healing of bone fractures, as well as in inflammatory processes that change the structure of bone tissue.
Reactive. The occurrence of osteosclerosis is a reaction to tumor processes, and can also be the result of a toxic effect on the body.

Depending on the origin of the disease:

congenital;
acquired.

Genetic reasons

We can say about a disease such as osteosclerosis that it is a pathological phenomenon that deforms the healthy structure of the bone. It is not an independent disease, but acts as a manifestation of other diseases. It can be caused by hereditary diseases:

Melorheostosis (Lehry's disease). Congenital pathology skeleton, manifested by an increase in the density of the bone area. Foci of osteosclerosis are also found in the ribs and vertebrae. Manifestations: increased fatigue, pain, weakness, inability to flex and straighten joints.
It's heavy genetic pathology. It can appear immediately after birth or at about ten years of age. Accompanied by hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain), malformations of the organs of hearing and vision, enlargement of the liver and spleen. Children suffer from severe anemia, systemic osteosclerosis, are retarded in mental and physical development, and have frequent fractures.
Osteopoikilia. A genetic disease of the skeleton, which is accompanied by numerous foci of osteosclerosis. It does not show any symptoms and is detected after fluoroscopy.
Dysosteosclerosis. Appears at an early age. Main symptoms: growth retardation, impaired dental development, systemic osteosclerosis, paralysis, blindness.
Pycnodysostosis. Severe disorder, detected at an early age. Characteristic signs: children are lagging behind in physical development, have shortened hands, disruption of the structure of the facial skeleton and teeth, systemic osteosclerosis develops, and frequent pathological fractures occur.
Paget's disease (osteitis deformans). Accompanied by destruction of bone tissue. The bone acquires a mosaic structure, with foci of osteosclerosis and osteoporosis, very fragile and prone to fractures.

Acquired reasons

Bone infections. Inflammatory processes of bone tissue caused by infection are often accompanied by local osteosclerosis, which develops at the border of the affected and healthy areas. Manifests itself in diseases such as chronic syphilis, Broddy's abscess, and bone tuberculosis.
Exposure to toxic substances on the body.
Cancerous tumors that metastasize to the bones.

So, osteosclerosis is a pathology of bone tissue that accompanies various bone diseases, congenital or acquired.

Symptoms of osteosclerosis

There are no obvious symptoms of osteosclerosis. A person may feel quickly tired and tired when walking, but this can be signs of any disease, so osteosclerosis of the bones can only be diagnosed by taking an x-ray. Frequent limb fractures may be a warning sign. Most often, the disease is discovered by chance during the diagnosis of other diseases. If a person suffers from any disease of the musculoskeletal system, osteosclerosis very often accompanies it.

Subchondral osteosclerosis

Subchondral osteosclerosis is the most common type of tissue compaction. This is one of the main manifestations of diseases of the musculoskeletal system such as osteochondrosis and arthrosis. Bone compaction occurs at the borders with areas affected by the inflammatory process. The area where it is affected is the spine, most often the cervical and lumbar regions, and joints - knee, hip, fingers.

The term subchondral means “subcartilaginous.” The bone tissue under the damaged cartilage thickens, grows, and over time, growths - osteophytes - form. In the initial stage they do not manifest themselves, in severe form they cause pain when bending, and ultimately can make the process of flexion and extension of the joint impossible. If pathological processes occur in the spine, then they mean osteosclerosis of the endplates, which are located between the vertebral disc and its body.

Causes of subchondral osteosclerosis

Since subchondral osteosclerosis is a concomitant manifestation of arthrosis and osteochondrosis, their causes are the same:

Unhealthy diet and excess weight.
Age-related changes.
Congenital predisposition.
Excessive physical activity during work or sports, frequent joint injuries.
Sedentary lifestyle, staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
Endocrine system disorders.
Vascular diseases, blood supply disorders.
Pathologies of skeletal or muscle development.
Disruptions in the endocrine system.

Symptoms of subchondral osteosclerosis

Symptoms of subchondral osteosclerosis depend on the disease that caused it, the nature of the lesion, the severity and complications, if any. At an early stage, it has no obvious manifestations. If the process is localized in the joints, it can cause deformation of the limbs. Osteosclerosis of the vertebra does not manifest itself until it causes the formation of osteophytes (pathological growth on bone tissue), then pain and neurological disorders occur, this occurs due to difficulty in the motor process and pinched nerves. Patients feel constant pain in the neck or lower back area. In severe, advanced form, it causes vertebral fractures and provokes loss of performance.

Joints

Osteosclerosis of the articular surfaces extends its effect to the bone plates located under the cartilage of the joint. The most common cause of development is permanent joint injuries or physical activity that causes arthrosis, and as a result, osteosclerosis. Another one common reason- elderly age. wears out over time and this causes the articular part of the bone to harden.

Osteosclerosis of the joints does not manifest itself at an early stage, but as the pathology develops and the affected surface increases, pain is felt during exercise and walking, which disappears if the joint is at rest. In a more severe stage, the pain is constant and does not disappear when the load is reduced.

Treatment of subchondral osteosclerosis

First of all, it is necessary to treat the diseases that caused the development of osteosclerosis, and this should be done in the initial stage of the disease. Treatment of advanced illnesses will no longer produce results, but will only stop or slow down the destruction. The problem is that such diseases do not cause much discomfort to the patient, so he is in no hurry to go to the doctor. But what earlier illness Once diagnosed, the easier it is to deal with it. If we talk about osteosclerosis itself, its treatment involves taking anti-inflammatory and painkillers (if necessary) drugs. The doctor may prescribe additional medications according to the existing symptoms, for example, those that relieve muscle spasms.

After pain is relieved, treatment includes physiotherapy and massage therapy. Therapeutic gymnastics is also used, which must be carried out strictly according to the rules, smoothly, without loading the diseased joint, but giving a full range of movements. If the course of osteosclerosis has been long and has already caused such a complication as osteophytes, it is impossible to get rid of them (it is only possible surgical method), therefore treatment is aimed at maintaining joint mobility.

Prevention of bone disease

The best treatment is prevention. And for it to be fruitful, you need to know everything about osteosclerosis, what it is and what causes it. Main rules of prevention:

Performance physical exercise. A passive lifestyle has a detrimental effect on the joints and spine, as well as excessively heavy loads. But correctly selected exercises improve the function and structure of bone tissue, stabilize blood supply, and prevent articular cartilage thin out and lose your main function- movement. For example, running is a prevention of arthritis, and therefore osteosclerosis. Besides active image life will not allow excess weight to appear, which is big enemy for joints and spine, and health in general.
Nutrition is of great importance. All foods consumed have a positive or negative effect on the body. They can increase or decrease the amount free radicals, destroying joints, removing or provoking inflammatory processes.
Listen carefully to your body. If you experience any unpleasant sensations, do not wait for it to go away on its own, but consult a doctor and, if necessary, undergo an examination so as not to start an irreversible destructive process.