Definition
Bone sclerosis is a process that results in thickening of the bone, often irreversible. In most cases, this sign is found in inflammation (ossifying or reactive osteitis) and as a consequence of arthrosis. Sometimes, bone sclerosis occurs without apparent cause.
The affected bone is denser and more compact due to the formation of new osteoid tissue. The latter is enriched with calcareous salts and fills the medullary spaces by affixing new bone lamellae (in practice, the opposite picture to osteoporosis is created).
This process makes the affected bone similar to ivory due to its hardness, compactness and consistency (eburnization).
In most cases, bone sclerosis is due to chronic inflammatory stimuli: the process is due to the reduction of the protective effect conferred by the articular cartilage and to the subsequent increase in the load on the area. This is followed by a vascular congestion which induces an increase in the reactive production of bone, which results in an increase in density.
On radiographs, this sign appears as an area of bone thickening below the worn or suffering cartilage.
Bone sclerosis can also arise in situations where the vascularization presents anomalies, such as in the presence of bone tumors, infections (osteitis, osteomyelitis, etc.) and abscesses, chronic ulcerative processes (varicose ulcers) and sequelae of a fracture (callus bone) . Sometimes, this manifestation can be found in the presence of syphilis, leukemia and phosphorus poisonings.
Radiographic image of a patient with bilateral knee osteoarthritis; you can notice the reduced articular spaces (sign of cartilage loss), the presence of osteophytes (bone spurs) and subchondral bone sclerosis (signaled by a greater intensity of bone color)
Possible Causes * of Bone Sclerosis
- Arthrosis
- Fluorosis
- Leukemia
- Osteitis
- Osteoid osteoma
- Osteomyelitis
- Osteosarcoma
- Syphilis
- Varicose veins
