severe rickets

Here is an example of severe rickets. There has been a lack of vitamin D for a long enough period of time for skeletal deformities to develop. The growth plate is not normal (compare to previous image). The growth plate is no longer smooth and has a ragged apperance. This is an indication that bones are not being calcified properly. The bones have lost their reticular pattern and have developed coarse trabeculations. The cortex has linear lucencies that are indicative of pseudofractures. These are simply poorly mineralized areas across the bone.


http://rickets.stanford.edu/pages/case04.html‎