20 Mar Case Study: Osteoporosis

Case Study: Osteoporosis

Complete the Osteoporosis Case Study activity. You should take notes as you go through the activity so you can answer the following questions based on the information you learn in the activity.

Questions:

1.  Draw a picture of what you think Margaret’s fracture looks like.

2.  The radiologist reported signs of osteoporosis. Describe the characteristics of an osteoporotic femur as seen on an X-ray. (How does it differ in appearance from a normal femur?)

3.  Describe the microscopic features of osseous tissue that normally help long bones withstand lateral stress without breaking.

4.  Describe the microscopic features of osseous tissue that normally help long bones withstand compressive stress without breaking.

Surgeons performed an open reduction of Margaret’s fracture, immobilizing the bones with internal pins.

5.  Describe the changes that a broken bone undergoes as it is healing.

6.  During her long recovery, Margaret is advised by her physician to begin weight-bearing as soon as she can. How does weight-bearing influence the process you described in question #5? (Be specific in your answer and describe what weight-bearing does to bone at the microscopic level.)

7.  Aside from any effect on the healing process, why else might Margaret’s physician want her to avoid a prolonged period of bed-ridden inactivity?

8.  What parts of the skeleton (i.e. what bones) are most vulnerable to the ravages of osteoporosis?

9.  Following her recovery, Margaret was placed on three medications: (A) oral calcium supplement, (B) oral estrogen, and (C) oral alendronate sodium (Fosamax). Specifically describe how each of these medications work to treat Margaret’s condition.

10.          Other treatments for osteoporosis include (A) sodium fluoride and (B) calcitonin. Describe how each of these medications works to treat osteoporosis.