Bone conditions and disorders can affect your whole body or only certain areas. They can include: 

• Bone cancers and tumors, such as cancers like Ewing sarcoma that begin in your bones. Cancer from other areas can also spread to your bones.
• Fibrous dysplasia, a condition where bone tissue becomes fibrous, making bones weaker
• Osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic problem that is sometimes called “brittle bone disease”
• Osteoporosis and osteopenia, conditions where your bone mass decreases, and your bones become weaker and more prone to fractures
• Osteomyelitis, inflammation or infection in your bones
• Paget’s disease, a chronic condition that causes problems with bone formation
• Rickets, a condition that mostly occurs in children and causes bone malformations in the legs

Symptoms of bone conditions depend on the type of condition and how severe it is. Some conditions have no symptoms.

Common Symptoms 

Possible symptoms include: 

• Bone malformations 
• Brittle bones or teeth  
• Fractures 
• Pain in your bones 

Different bone conditions have different causes. Sometimes the cause is not known.

There are some factors that can increase your risk for bone conditions, including:

We use the most advanced equipment and methods to diagnose bone conditions. Tests we use to diagnose these conditions may include: 

• Blood tests, a sample of your blood can be used to look for signs of inflammation or infection 
• Bone density test, also called a DEXA scan, that checks for osteoporosis and other bone problems 
• CT scan, an imaging test that can reveal problems with your bones and other tissues 
• MRI, a scan that shows detailed pictures of your bones 
• Ultrasound, a test that uses sound waves to create images of your bones 
• X-ray, an imaging test that uses electromagnetic waves to show the shape and alignment of your bones 

Specialists at UC Davis Health Department of Orthopaedics work with researchers to stay current with the latest treatments. We use the most advanced procedures and therapies to treat all types of bone conditions.

Your treatment depends on the type of bone condition you have, what area of your body it affects and how severe it is. You may need more than one type of treatment.

Many bone conditions aren’t possible to prevent. Getting enough vitamins and minerals can help prevent rickets and osteoporosis. There are also medications that can help keep osteopenia from developing into osteoporosis.