Question

1. What is the difference between osteoporosis, osteopenia & osteomalacia?

2. Name 3 treatments for osteoporosis.

3. For what reason would a wrench need to be readily accesible for a patient on an orthopedic unit?

4. What is the proper order/sequence to assess the GI system?

5. Name one medication that affects the oral cavity (i.e. gums).

Answer 1

1)Osteoporosis, Osteopenia and Osteomalacia are three different bone diseases with their respective aetiologies and risk factors.

Osteoporosis is a bone condition where is there is reduction in bone mass due to increased bone resorption(breakdown of bone tissue) or due to decreased ossification(new bone formation).

The main cause is due to defect in maintaining normal bone density due to impaired effect of hormones on bone development. other causes include delayed puberty, hypogonadism, androgen insensitivity syndrome etc.

Riskfactors include chronic steroid use, age, heavy smoking and alcohol consumption, Vit D deficiency etc.

Osteopenia is the precursor for osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a bone condition in which bone mass is reduced but not so much as in osteoporosis .

Osteomalacia is defined as softening of bones due to impaired bone remodelling( metabolism) .This leads to decreased bone mineralization.

It occurs due to lack of vitamin D, calcium, phosphate.

It is seen in conditions like chronic kidney disease, renal tubular acidosis .