Diagnosis and Treatment of Bone and Joint Disorders

The adult human skeletal system comprising of 206 bones provides support and protection to internal organs, and facilitates movement. The joints between bones can maintain heavy loads, withstand compression and execute smooth and precise movements. The bones are affected by a number of diseases, among which are fractures, infections, arthritis, osteoporosis and tumors. Fractures occur on exposure to a significant force or repeated trauma over time. It may also occur when a bone is considerably weakened with osteoporosis, cancer or affected with Paget's disease. Metastases in bones are generally secondary cancers but bones are a common site for the spread of lung cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, kidney cancer and prostate cancer. These secondary cancers can destroy or create bone. Cancers of the bone marrow can affect the bone tissue. In osteoporosis, there is a reduction of bone mineral density thereby increasing the likelihood of fractures. When one or more joints are inflamed, the condition is called arthritis. It can be of different forms- osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, etc. The joints of the mandible may be affected by temporomandibular joint syndrome that inhibits jaw movement and cause facial pain. Bones and joints disorders are diagnosed with ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan and X-ray. This book is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about bone and joint disorders. It includes contributions of experts and scientists which will provide innovative insights into these disorders. For all those who are interested in orthopedics, this book can prove to be an essential guide.