Bone Health

At Stanford Children’s Health, we bring experts in endocrinology, orthopedics, sports medicine, adolescent medicine, genetics, nephrology and physical therapy together to provide the best possible treatments for primary and secondary osteoporosis.

Causes of osteoporosis

• Primary: due to heritable bone disorders such as osteogenesis imperfecta
• Secondary: due to chronic diseases (such as leukemia, rheumatic diseases, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, inflammatory bowel disease or disordered eating) or to the medications used for treatment.

Treatment options include:

• Genetic analysis for primary osteoporosis
• Treating the chronic disease or the underlying condition causing secondary osteoporosis; minimizing use of medications harmful to bone, if possible
• Optimizing nutrition
• Optimizing calcium intake and vitamin D level
• Exercises to build strength and optimize movement
• Drug treatment (bisphosphonates) if fractures occur
• Surgery to fix fractures or reposition bones, if needed