RICKETS

DR. YASNA KIBRIA

MD Resident(Phase A)
Department of Radiology and Imaging
BSMMU
 Rickets (Rachitis)
• Is a metabolic disease of growing bone that is unique to
children especially of first two years of life.

• It is caused by a failure of mineralization of osteoid tissue in

a developing skeleton ,particularly at the growth plate,
especially by imperfect calcification and typically resulting in
soft bones and skeletal deformities.
 “ENGLISH DISEASE” is another
name of rickets
• Old English word WRICK (wrickken)means “to
twist”.
• The Greek word “rachitis” means “to bend”.
• Romans described individuals who may have
had rickets in 2nd century.
• In 1920,causes of rickets were identified.
• In 1930,public health initiative was taken to
fortify milk with vitamin D.
 TYPES OF RICKETS
• Nutritional rickets or vitamin D deficiency rickets.
• Vitamin D dependent rickets:
type 1 & type 2
• Vitamin D resistant rickets (Familial hypophosphataemia).
• Secondary rickets:CLD, End stage renal diseases (CKD) etc.

CAUSES of rickets :
1. Abnormality in vitamin D metabolism
2. Abnormality in phosphate metabolism
3. Calcium deficiency
VITAMIN D :THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN
SOURCES of vitamin D
• Sun light
-synthesized in body
from precursor sterol
• All milk products
(fortified)
• Cod liver oil
• Egg yolk
VITAMIN D METABOLISM
 Hypocalcaemic rickets(with secondary
hyperparathyroidism)

• lack of vitamin D (NUTRITIONAL RICKETS) : causes-

-dietary deficiency
-lack of exposure to sunlight
-lack of production of vit D by the body
-black skin immigrants
-exclusive breast feeding without vit D supplementation
-malabsorpsion of vitamin D (gastroenterogenous rickets):
crohn’s disease,coeliac disease etc.
Continue…..

• Chronic liver disease :affects conversion of cholecalciferol to

calcidiol
• Anticonvulsant drugs:phenytoin,phenobarbitone (due to
increased metabolism of vit D by inducing cytochrome p450
enzymes)
RENAL OSTEODYSTROPHY(RENAL RICKETS)
due to loss of renal function failure to synthesize active form of vitamin D
and failure to excrete phosphate reduced calcium increases PTH
increase activity of osteoclasts resulted osteomalacia/rickets,osteosclerosis,soft
tissue calcifications etc.

HEREDITARY RICKETS (vitamin D dependent rickets):

• Type 1 vitamin D dependent rickets (defect in the 1 alpha hydroxylase enzyme
which is responsible for conversion of 25(OH)D into the active metabolite)
• Type 2 vitamin D dependent rickets (due to end organ resistance to calcitriol
which is usually caused by mutation of gene encoding for vitamin D receptors)
 NUTRITIONAL RICKETS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Commonest metabolic bone disease globally.
• Nutritional type is commonest in Asia , Africa and Middle east.
• Incidence rising in the west due to more children staying
indoors and watching TV and playing video games.
• Rates of disease is equal in males and females.
• Affected infants are usually below 1000gm in weight or less
than 28 weeks of gestations.
• AGE: 3-18 months.
 CLINICAL MENIFESTATIONS
1. Finding specific to the bone tissues in rickets:
-Symptoms of osteomalacia
- Symptoms of hyperplasia of osteoid tissue

-Symptoms of hypoplasia of osseous tissue

2.Finding non-specific to bone tissue in rickets.
 Findings specific to bone tissue
• SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOMALACIA:
Craniotabes
Softening of big fontanelle’s edges
Softening of the ribs
Kyphosis
Bowing of the legs
 Findings specific to bone tissue cont.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERPLASIA OF OSTEOID TISSUE

1. Increase of frontal and occipital tubers(frontal

bossing,caput quadratum,”hot cross bun” skull)
2. Costo-chondral prominence(rachitic rosary)
3. Chest deformities(Harrison’s groove and pigeon chest)
Findings specific to bone tissue cont.
• SYMPTOMS OF HYPOPLASIA OSSEOUS TISSUE

1. Delayed fontanelle closure

2. Delayed dentition
3. Enamel hypoplasia
4. Deformities like kyphosis,scoliosis
5. Costal or lower extremity fractures(particularly greenstick fractures)
6. Lag of growth of tubular bones in length in severe cases.
Findings NOT specific to bone tissue:

• Occipital alopecia
• Muscular hypotonia (floppy baby syndrome)
• Constipation
• Hypocalcaemic tetany
• Anaemia
• Increased risk of respiratory infections
• Growth retardation and low height for age (rachitic dwarfism)
PATHOGENESIS of Rickets
Radiological features(ACTIVE RICKETS)
WIDENING OF
GROWTH
PLATE
• Earliest radiological
sign is loss of zone of
provisional
calcification adjacent
to metaphysis.

• Due to deposition of
excess un-mineralized
osteoid.
METAPHYSEAL
FRAYING
• Irregular metaphyseal
margins occurring due to
fraying and disorganization
of spongy bone in the
metaphyseal region.

METAPHYSEAL CUPPING
AND SPLAYING
• Protrusion of bulky mass
of cartilaginous cells in
the zone of hypertrophy
into poorly mineralized
metaphysis.
EPIPHYSEAL ABNORMALITY
• Osteopenia
• Irregular and indistinct
borders
• Delayed appearance of
ossification centres.

SHAFT ABNORMALITIES
• Bone density is reduced
due to loss of mineral
content.
• Cortex become thin with a
course trabeculation.
 GROWTH PLATE
ABNORMALITIES

• Generalised osteopenia
• Course trabecular pattern
• Frayed paintbrush
metaphyseal
margins(arrows)
• Lack of zone of provisional
calcification
• Widening of the physis
 CRANIOTABES
• Occurs due to thinning of outer
table of occipital or parietal
bone.

[CLINICALLY , detected by gentle

pressure by thumbs over the
occipital or posterior parietal
bones , pingpong sensation will
be felt.
**EARLIEST clinical sign of
rickets.]
 CAPUT QUADRATUM
• Excess osteoid deposition in
frontal and parietal regions
with posterior flattening of
skull due to supine posture
of infant.
• Squared configuration of the
skull.
• Demineralization of skull.
 BOWING OF LONG BONES
• Result of displacement of
growth centres owing to
asymmetrical
musculotendinous pull on
the weakened growth plate.
 RACHITIC ROSARY
• Bulbous enlargement of
costo-chondral junction
especially middle ribs.

• Due to deposition of excess

osteoid in zone of
hypertrophy.
 TRIRADIATE PELVIS

• Protrusion of hip and

spine into soft pelvis with
protrussio acetabuli.
IN LONG STANDING CASES:

• Bowing of the long bones.

• Fracture of weight bearing bones.
• Looser’s zones [less than osteomalacia]
• Triangular pelvic cavity.
• Stunted growth.
 LABORATORY FINDINGS
• Serum calcium: low or normal
• Serum phosphorus: low
• Serum alkaline phosphatase: markedly raised(though it
is not specific but a sensitive early indicator of rachitic activity)
• Serum PTH: raised
• Serum 25-(OH) D3: low (most sensitive index of vit D status)
** A serum calcium and serum phosphorus product
(mg per 100 ml) above 40 excludes rickets,while a
figure below 30 indicate active rickets.
 TREATMENT
• Vitamin D supplementation:
-STOSS THERAPY
-GRADUAL THERAPY
• Either strategy should be followed by daily maintenance of vitamin D
intake of-
400 IU/day if <1 year
600 IU/day if >1 year
• Calcium supplementation(350-1000 mg/day)
 Radiological changes
HEALING RICKETS
• Appearance of line of provisional
calcification at the end of
metaphysis.
• Metaphysis shows cupping and
splaying but NO FRAYING.
• The shaft still shows diminished
density.
• Periosteum may show double
periosteal line due to subperiosteal
deposition of osteoid tissue.
 Radiological changes
HEALED RICKETS
• The shaft is calcified.
• The sub-periosteal osteoid tissue
is calcified(no double periosteal
line).
• Splaying and cupping are
corrected.
 VITAMIN D RESISTANT RICKETS (FAMILIAL
HYPOPHOSPHATEMIA/X -LINKED HYPOPHOSPHATASIA)
• Most common non-nutritional form of rickets.
• Mode of inheritance –X linked dominant .
• Pathogenic mechanism-defect in proximal tubular reabsorption of phosphate.
• Clinical menifestations-
i. Children present with bowing of lower extrimities
ii. Waddling gait
iii. Coxa vara,genu varum,genu valgum
iv. Short stature
**characteristics of calcium deficient rickets are not evident,e.g. rachitic
rosary,Harrison sulcus.
**pulp deformities and intraglobular dentin are characteristic tooth
abnormalities(in rickets-enamel deformities)
 FAMILIAL hypophosphatemia cont…
***This disease is SIMILAR to rickets in radiological appearance
• hypophosphatemia , hyperphosphaturia , elevated serum ALP , normal
serum calcium,vitamin D and serum PTH.

TUMOUR RICKETS (Acquired hypophosphatemia):

• Rarely, hypophosphatemia has been seen in association with tumours of
bone or soft tissues,frequently fibrous in origin.
• association also has been reported with prostatic carcinoma,oat cell
carcinoma of lung,neurofibromatosis,fibrous dysplasia.
• Resection of the tumor causes resolution of the rickets.
 HYPOPHOSPHATASIA
• Inherited as autosomal recessive
trait.
• Radiographic picture varies mild to
very severe form of
rickets,depending upon age of
onset.
• Neonatal variety is most severe.
• Low serum ALP and Increased
urinary phosphoethanolomine.
• In severe cases-exaggerated fraying
of metaphysis with uncalcified
osteoid extending into metaphysis.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
OF RICKETS
SCURVY
(BARLOW’S
DISEASE)
Vitamin C deficiency
leads to defective
formation of bony
matrix,as it is necessary
for formation
hydroxyproline,which is
vital for collagen.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RICKETS
AND SCURVY
POINTS RICKETS SCURVY

CAUSES VITAMIN D deficiency VITAMIN C deficiency

PATHOGENESIS Inadequate mineralization Faulty collagen synthesis(defective

leading to unmineralised hydroxylation of lysine and proline) in
bones,cartilages,teeth.
matrix at growth plate.
MINERALISATION defective Normal.

PEAK INCIDENCE 3-18 months 6-24 months

CLINICAL FEATURES • Rickets can present • Rare before 6 months.
within 2 months of age. • Progressive
• Bone pain,short irritability,pseudoparaly
strature,fracture,tooth sis,haemorrhage into
deformities etc. gum and mucous
membranes etc.
ROSARY FORMATION • Knobby and nodular • Angular costochondral
appearance. junction with sharper
step-off

AREA OF INVOLVEMENT Zone of hypertrophy Primary spongiosa

RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES:
1. Epiphysis Epiphyseal centres are Epiphysis is small,sharply
indistinct or invisible . marginated by a sclerotic rim
(WIMBERGER’S SIGN)
[termed as signet ring or
ringing of epiphysis]
 Cont..
• Loss of zone of provisional Zone of provisional
calcification adjacent to calcification at metaphysis is
2.Metaphysis : (a) metaphysis,having faint dense,giving a white line
irregular outline(FRAYING) (FRANKEL’S LINE)
• Splaying and cupping of
metaphysis.

(b) Not found. • Beneath this is a lucent

zone,due to lack of
mineralized
osteoid(TRUMERFELD
ZONE)
• Lateral projection of white
line may lead to formation
of spur or marginal cleft
(PELKAN’S SPUR) ( [corner
sign:great diagnostic value]
Continue…..
3.Shaft abnormalities Cortical thinning with Cortical thinning with
course trabeculation. GROUND GLASS
APPERANCE
[CHARACTERISTIC ]

4.SUBPERIOSTEAL LAYER May be found but Less Sub-periosteal haemorrhage

marked effect. due to capillary fragility
giving rise to periosteal
elevation.(affected bone
looks like a dumbbell or a
club)
 PREVENTION

• Exposure to ultraviolet ray in

sunshine (10-20 minute/day)

• Intake of vitamin D rich foods.

• vitamin D supplementation of
200-400 IU/day.