Rickets (Osteomalacia): Complications

The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by rickets or osteomalacia:

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

  • Hypocalcemia (calcium deficiency) → tetany (disturbance of motor function and sensitivity due to hyperexcitability of nerves and muscles).

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

  • Skeletal changes due to decreased mineralization of the osteoid (due to calcium deficiency or phosphate deficiency).
  • O-legs due to coxa vara, genu varum.

Nervous system (G00-G99)

  • Muscle weakness due tolack of vitamin D at the vitamin D receptors of muscle cells.

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

  • Chronic pain

Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)

  • Increased occurrence of fractures (bone fractures) due to decreased mineralization of the osteoid (due to calcium deficiency or phosphate deficiency) = insufficiency fractures (typical of osteomalacia); typical localizations:
      • Os sacrum (sacrum)
      • Pelvis
      • Tibial plateau (plateau of the tibia).
      • Ossa metatarsalia (metatarsal bone)