Musculoskeletal manifestations of osteomalacia and rickets

Osteomalacia (OM) is still an important metabolic bone disease with increased prevalence in certain regions of the world as well as in the urban population of elderly confined. The disease presents with a wide variety of clinical, biochemical and radiographic manifestations mimicking other musculoskeletal disorders, including ‘osteoporosis’. In this chapter, we provide the basis for its clinical diagnosis and management. There have been significant recent advances in the understanding of vitamin D deficiency and hypophosphataemic osteomalacia, which can now assist clinicians in the precise diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In this chapter we also review the various underlying aetiologies. The successful management of OM depends on the underlying aetiology.