Osteogenesis imperfecta is commonly called “brittle bone” disorder. The term “osteogenesis imperfecta” means imperfect bone formation.
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a skeletal disease that is characterized by unusually fragile bones that break easily. These broken bones often occur under loads that normal bones bear without a problem.
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a connective tissue disease. It is the result of a malfunction in your body’s production of the protein collagen. The quality of the collagen produced by your body is too poor, or the amount is too little with osteogenesis imperfecta.
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a relatively rare disease. It affects between 20,000 and 50,000 people in the United States. Osteogenesis imperfecta occurs with equal frequency among all racial and ethnic groups and men and women.
There are four main types of osteogenesis. Type I is the mildest and most common form of this disease. Some of the effects caused by Type 1, osteogenesis imperfecta are:
- Hearing loss beginning in your 20s
- Brittle teeth
- Blue sclerae (whites of the eye)
- Fragile bones
- Loose joints
- Triangular-shaped face
- Low muscle tone
- Thin, smooth skin
- Scoliosis (curvature of your spine).
Type II, osteogenesis imperfecta affects about 10% of the people who have this disorder.
This is the most severe form of the disorder.. This type of osteogenesis imperfecta frequently causes death at or shortly after birth.
Type III, osteogenesis imperfecta affects about 20% of the people who have this disease. People with this type commonly have 100 fractures by the time they reach puberty. Some of the effects of Type III are:
- Short stature
- Poor muscle development
- Possible respiratory problems
- Scoliosis
- Soft bones that bend, as well as breaking easily
- Loose joints
- Sclera have a purple, gray or blue tint
- Barrel-shaped ribcage
- Possible hearing loss
- Poor tooth development that often causes your teeth to be discolored and brittle
- Triangular-shaped face.
Type IV osteogenesis imperfecta falls between Type I and Type III in terms of its severity. Fractures happen primarily before puberty with the exception of women after menopause. Some of the effects are:
- Scoliosis
- Easily overstretched, loose joints
- Triangular-shaped face
- Possible brittle teeth
- Possible hearing loss
- Below average height
- Barrel-shaped ribcage
- Mild to moderate bone deformity.
You or a loved one may have osteogenesis imperfecta. It may be why you are disabled and in need of financial help.
You or your loved one may have applied for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits from the Social Security Administration because of the disability caused by osteogenesis imperfecta. Were you or your loved one denied?
If you plan to appeal the denial, always remember. People who are represented in the appeals process by a trustworthy disability attorney like you will find at socialsecurityhome.com are approved more often than those without a lawyer.
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