Rickets is a condition that affects bone development in children. It causes bone pain, poor growth and soft, weak bones that can lead to bone deformities. Adults can experience a similar condition, which is known as osteomalacia or soft bones.

1. SCHOOL OF MEDICALAND ALLIED SCIENCES
Course Code : BHPT5001 Course Name : clinical orthopaedics
Rickets
(osteomalacia)

2. DEFINITION
• Rickets is the softening and weakening at
bones in children, usually because of an
extreme and prolonged vitamin D
deficiency
• Vitamin D promotes the absorption of
calcium and phosphorus from the
gastrointestinal tract. A deficiency of
vitamin D makes it difficult to maintain
proper calcium and phosphorus levels in
bones which can cause rickets

3. Adding vitamin D or calcium to the diet generally corrects the
bone problems associated with rickets.
When rickets are due to another underlying medical problem,
need additional medications or other treatment, some skeletal
deformities caused by rickets may require corrective surgery.

4. CAUSES
Lack of vitamin D
Children who don’t get enough vitamin D from these two sources
can develop a deficiency
1. Sunlight
The skin produces Vitamin–D when it’s exposed to sunlight. But
children in developed countries tend to spend less time outdoors
They are also more likely to use sunscreen. Which blocks the rays
that trigger the skin’s production of vitamin-D

5. 2. Food
Fish oils, fatty fish and egg yolks contain vitamin D. Vitamin D also
been added to some foods, such as milk, cereal and some fruit
juices
CAUSES

6. RISK FACTORS
Factors that can increase a child’s risk of rickets include
• Dark skin
Dark skin doesn’t react as strongly to sunshine as does lighter skin,
so it produces less vitamin D
• Mother’s vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy
A baby born to a mother with severe vitamin D deficiency can be
born with signs of rickets or develop them within a few months
after birth

7. RISK FACTORS
• Northern latitudes
Children who live in geographical locations where there is less
sunshine are at higher risk of rickets
• Premature birth
Babies born before their due dates are more likely to develop rickets
• Medications
Certain types of anti-seizures medications and antiretroviral
medications, used to treat HIV infections, appear to interfere with
the body’s ability to use vitamin D

8. SIGNS AND SYMPTOM’S
Signs and symptom's of rickets can include
• Delay growth
• Pain in the spine, pelvis and legs
• Muscle weakness
Because rickets softens the growth plates at the end of a
child’s bones, it can cause skeletal deformities such as:
• Bowed legs or knock knees
• Thickened wrists and ankles
• Breastbone projection

9. COMPLICATIONS
Left untreated, rickets can
lead to
• Failure to grow
• Abnormally curved
spine
• Skeletal deformities
• Dental defects
• seizures

10. TREATMENT
• Nutritional osteomalacia responds well to
administration of 10,000 IU weekly of vitamin D
for four to six weeks
• Osteomalacia due to malabsorption may require
treatment by injection or daily oral dosing of
significant amounts of vitamin D
• Calcitriol supplement for CKD

11. TREATMENT
• Exercise
Exercise helps to strengthen the bones, especially weight–bearing
exercise (anything that involves walking or running). However, you
should avoid intensive exercise while any fractures or cracks in the
bones are healing.
• Diet and nutrition
A diet that includes vitamin D and calcium can help, but this won’t
prevent the condition by it self. Nevertheless a diet that provides
vitamin D is especially important If you don’t get enough exposure
to sunlight.

12. TREATMENT
• sunlight
Where possible, going outside and exposing your arms and face to
sunlight is the best way to get vitamin D. From June to August just
15 minutes a day is generally enough. Don’t allow your skin to go
red and take care not to burn, particularly in strong sunshine and
if you have fair or sensitive skin.

13. THANK YOU