What is fibrous dysplasia?
Fibrous dysplasia happens when abnormal fibrous (scar-like) tissue replaces healthy bone. The fibrous tissue weakens the bone over time, which can lead to:
- Broken bones.
- Bones that are misshapen (bowed or crooked). The disease can affect any bone in the body.
Some people have no symptoms or only a few symptoms. Other people may have more symptoms.
Although there is no cure for fibrous dysplasia, treatments may help to lessen pain, and physical therapy may help strengthen muscle and improve movement.
Who gets fibrous dysplasia?
Fibrous dysplasia is not common, but anyone can develop the disease. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, who have likely had it since birth.
What are the symptoms of fibrous dysplasia?
People with a milder form of the disease may not have any symptoms. Sometimes, they find out they have fibrous dysplasia after having an x-ray for another reason. Other people may have more severe symptoms. The most common symptoms of fibrous dysplasia include:
- Bone pain.
- Misshapen (crooked or bowing) bones.
- Broken bones.
What causes fibrous dysplasia?
Fibrous dysplasia happens when a gene mutates (changes) early in a pregnancy. There is nothing that the mother can do to prevent this from happening. Children do not inherit the gene from their parents and will not pass the disease to their children.
Unfortunately, researchers do not know what causes the gene to mutate. But they have identified the gene and continue to study why fibrous dysplasia develops.