Fibrous dysplasia is a rare medical disorder that causes fibrous tissue to develop within the bones. Bones can weaken as a result, which can increase your risk of fractures and other poor health effects. Fibrous dysplasia often causes the following symptoms:
For people who experience the above effects, proper treatment can reduce discomfort and improve function.
While fibrous dysplasia can develop anywhere in the body, the condition often affects the following areas:
Fibrous dysplasia can develop in one or multiple bones. However, the condition does not spread from bone to bone once symptoms appear.
Doctors are not entirely sure what causes fibrous dysplasia. The condition results from a genetic mutation targeting a gene that controls the growth of bones. Fibrous dysplasia is very rare, and some people who have it never develop symptoms.
The effects of fibrous dysplasia can make bones more fragile, which increases a person’s risk of breaks. In fact, many people discover they have fibrous dysplasia after a bone fracture. Vision and hearing loss can also occur if fibrous tissue harms nerves within the ears and eyes.
With mild forms of fibrous dysplasia, doctors may choose only to monitor the condition. If symptoms are more serious, you may need one or more of the following treatments:
Proper management of fibrous dysplasia is key to controlling the condition and avoiding worsening effects, such as repeated bone fractures.