Injuries and disorders of the male skeletal system can occur at any time during the lifespan. Some are more common, however, in certain age groups. Injuries and disorders can occur at one or several locations in the skeleton, or affect all of the bones.
Abnormal Bone Development
Hereditary and environmental insults can result in abnormal bone development in men. Vitamin D is necessary for normal bone development. The disease Rickets can develop if vitamin D intake is inadequate. The skeleton becomes deformed and fragile, and growth is delayed. In the hereditary condition osteogenesis imperfecta, symptoms may include short stature, early hearing loss, fragile bones, blue whites of the eyes and bowed legs and arms depending on the severity of the disease. It is usually caused by a genetic mutation in a connective tissue component called type I collagen, according to "Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease" by Dr. Vinay Kumar.
Abnormal Bone Loss
Various lesions in the bone can cause the loss of bone tissue. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are diseases that are thought to affect more women, but are known to affect men as well, particularly in the elderly population. These are diseases of decreased bone mass that result in fragile bones and frequent fractures. These affect the entire skeletal system. Some other diseases of bone loss affect one or more particular areas. The blood cancer multiple myeloma causes destruction of bones, as does metastatic lung cancer according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" by Anthony S. Fauci.
Abnormal Bone Growths
While some diseases of bone in men cause destruction, others cause abnormal bone growth. The growth is typically disorganized and causes deformations and fragility. Paget's disease has an unknown cause. The disease overproduces bone throughout the skeleton, causing pain, hearing loss, headaches and malformed bones. Prostate cancer in men can also spread to the bones, where it can cause abnormal bone growth and pain.
Trauma
Another common source of bone injuries is trauma. Car collisions, falls and other accidents are frequent causes of fracture in men. These are generally treatable conditions with a full recovery. In some populations, however, the outcomes are worse, such as in hip fractures in elderly men, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine."
References
- "Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease"; Vinay Kumar et al; 8th Ed 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony S Fauci et al; 17th Ed 2008
