Studies on skeletal muscle biopsies in endemic skeletal fluorosis

Neurological manifestations of skeletal fluorosis have been attributed to compressive radiculomyelopathy. Experimental fluorosis has shown evidence of myopathic changes. Data on human muscle pathology is very scanty. This study included 22 patients with established osteofluorosis. 16 of them showed only EMG changes of neurogenic muscle disease. Histochemistry and histopathology of muscle biopsies showed features of muscle atrophy, evidenced by 'type I' atrophy and 'type I' grouping. No myopathic changes were observed. It may be concluded that the primary changes are related to the nerve, with muscle being affected secondarily. There was no evidence of any primary muscle pathology due to fluorosis.