Musculoskeletal System and Gait Characteristics in Patients with Osteogenesis imperfecta

The aim of the study was to assess the muscoloskeletal system and spatiotemporal gait parameters of patients in three types of osteogenesis imperfecta.

Retrospective observational study.

The Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, Poland.

This study investigated individuals with various types of osteogenesis imperfecta: 33 with osteogenesis imperfecta I (aged 13.9), 16 with osteogenesis imperfecta III (aged 10.4), and 14 with osteogenesis imperfecta IV (aged, 15.8), as well as a reference group of 400 healthy individuals.

The musculoskeletal assessment included: medical record review, clinical evaluation, functional tests, long bone deformity assessment via clinical and X-ray examination, and objective gait analysis with the Vicon Motion Systems (Ltd, Oxford, UK).

The study revealed notable differences in clinical presentation, deformities within the musculoskeletal system, gait parameters across the various types of osteogenesis imperfecta (p < 0.001). The most affected gait parameters were: cadence, gait speed and step length. The greatest deformities of lower limbs and spine were presented in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta type III.

These findings are significant for understanding gait abnormalities in osteogenesis imperfecta patients and designing customized physiotherapy programs to help them participate fully in daily life. Improvement of muscle strength is one of the key for easier engagement in activities like walking or stair-climbing.