ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Paget’s disease of bone

What is Paget’s disease of bone?

16:27 - 5 December , 2023

Disease

It is a chronic condition that causes an anomaly in the natural process of bone renewal, in which new bones grow to replace those that have already completed their cycle.

In Paget’s bone disease, new bones grow fast due to the premature decomposition of old bones, causing new bones to be larger, softer, and more fragile, making them susceptible to deformation and fracture.

The areas that are most frequently affected are the lower limbs, the skull, the pelvis, and the spine, being a disorder more common in men over 50 years old, as well as in people of both sexes who have family members who have suffered from the disease.

The possible complications of Paget’s disease of bone include:

  • Fractures.
  • Deformations.
  • Compression of the nerves in the spine, which can cause:
  • Sensitivity problems.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Numbness and weakness in the limbs.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Bone cancer.
  • Heart failure.

Signs and symptoms Paget’s disease of bone

The general symptoms, which may manifest slowly, include:

  • Aching bones and joints.
  • Deformation.
  • Fractures.

Specific symptoms depend on the area or areas affected:

  • Pelvic area:
    • Headache.
  • Cranial area:
    • Migraine.
    • Hearing loss.
  • Spine:
    • Numbness in the limbs.
    • Pain.
    • Tingling.

Diagnosis and treatment Paget’s disease of bone

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and various tests to confirm the diagnosis, including:

  • Blood tests.
  • X-rays.
  • Bone scintigraphy.

The treatment to be followed will depend on the degree of progression of the condition and its location, but, in general, bisphosphonates are prescribed, which are the medications used to treat osteoporosis.

Specific corrective surgery will be needed when bone damage is serious.

At the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the musculoskeletal system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

Related centers and departments

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • orthoinfo.aaos.org
  • sogacot.org
  • middlesexhealth.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • cun.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Zamudio VL. Iconografía Fractura del fémur en un caso de enfermedad ósea de Paget. Acta Ortop Mex. 2001 Jul-Ago;15(4):194.
  • Hernández-Pascual C, Villanueva-Martínez M, Ríos-Luna A, et al. Enfermedad de Paget monostótica rotuliana. Acta Ortop Mex. 2010 Ene-Feb;24(1):14-17.
  • Sánchez LAA, Ruiz VY, Avilés AD, et al. Uso de bifosfonatos asociado a riesgo de osteonecrosis en maxilares. Aten Fam. 2020;27(1):43-46.
  • Álvarez HE, Hernández CCB. Osteosarcoma osteoblástico en un paciente con enfermedad de Paget del hueso. Comunicación de un caso y revisión bibliográfica. Med Int Mex. 2006;22( 6):559-564.

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