Symptoms more specific for rickets and not osteomalacia
What clinical manifestations are more specific for rickets and not osteomalacia?
Since rickets results from mineralization defects that occur during bone maturation, some clinical manifestations are distinct from those observed with osteomalacia in adults. Clinical features include bone pain, deformities, fractures, muscle weakness, and growth retardation. Laboratory findings are similar to those in osteomalacia. However, x-rays may show delayed opacification of the epiphyses, widened growth plates, widened and irregular metaphyses, and thin cortices with sparse, coarse trabeculae in the diaphyses. Deformities differ depending on the time of onset:
| First Year Of Life | After First Year Of Life |
|---|---|
| Widened cranial sutures | Flared ends of long bones |
| Frontal bossing | Bowing of long bones |
| Craniotabes | Sabre shins |
| Rachitic rosary | Coxa vara |
| Harrison’s groove | Genu varum |
| Flared wrists | Genu valgum |
