The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 77, Issue 9 1352-1356, Copyright © 1995 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Gastrointestinal problems in patients who have type-III osteogenesis imperfecta
JH Lee, JG Gamble, RE Moore and LA Rinsky
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.
We performed a study of forty-three patients who had type-III osteogenesis
imperfecta. Our purpose was to determine the frequency and severity of
abdominal problems and the relationship between these problems and pelvic
deformity. Twelve patients had had recurrent episodes of abdominal pain.
Eleven of them had a history of chronic constipation, and five had been
treated for fecal impaction. Radiographs had been made for ten of these
patients, and eight of them had radiographic evidence of pelvic deformity
with severe acetabular protrusion. Chronic constipation and recurrent
abdominal pain are more frequent in patients who have osteogenesis
imperfecta and acetabular protrusion than in those who do not have
protrusion. These patients may benefit from early attention to a bowel
program and referral to a gastrointestinal specialist.