Abstract

RESTREPO, Mauricio; ARISTIZABAL, Julieta  and  GONZALEZ, Luis Alonso. Fractures in a woman with severe diffuse myalgias and hypokalemia. Acta Med Colomb [online]. 2013, vol.38, n.4, pp.255-257. ISSN 0120-2448.

Abstract The deficit in bone mineralization characterizes rickets and osteomalacia, which may be secondary to deficiencies of calcium or mainly of vitamin D. Osteomalacia generates unspecific and insidious symptoms, usually minimized , and can be confused with other medical conditions. Bone densitometry does not differentiate between osteoporosis and osteomalacia, so it is up to the clinician to make a wise assessment of symptoms, risk factors, history, laboratory abnormalities and radiographic findings to try to rule out the presence of isolated or simultaneous osteomalacia. The exclusion of osteomalacia has important therapeutic and prognostic implications. We report the case of a patient with osteomalacia with multiple spontaneous fractures, Looser-Milkman pseudo-fractures, angular deformities in knees, diffuse myalgias, and history of renal tubular acidosis, severe hipokalemias and sensorineural deafness, which had been wrongly labeled and treated as osteoporosis. (Acta Med Colomb 2013; 38: 255-257).

Keywords : osteomalacia; rickets; osteoporosis; Looser-Milkman psuedofractures; renal tubular acidosis; hypokalemia; genu valgus; sensorineural deafness.

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