[Therapy of bone and joint changes in Albers-Schönberg osteopetrosis]

The history, genetic heterogenity, clinical appearance, radiologic morphology and specific pathology of Albers-Schönberg disease are described, with special reference to its orthopedic aspects, on the basis of 14 case histories. The orthopedic problems (osteomyelitis, delayed fracture and osteotomy healing, growth deviations of long bones, spinal pathology, arthrosis and fatigue fractures) are described in detail and documented. The disease is often recognized only by chance when routine X-ray examinations are performed. More serious manifestations of the disease, however, such as spontaneous osteomyelitis, fatigue fractures, coxarthrosis or gonarthrosis with or without growth aberrations, pose difficult problems of treatment. Delayed callus formation is routinely observed; this demands special osteosynthesis techniques must be constantly borne in mind during and after operative care.