Fibrous dysplasia
Also called: fibrous dysplasia of bone
What it means
Fibrous dysplasia is a bone condition where normal bone is replaced by weaker, fibrous (scar-like) tissue in one or more bones, usually starting in childhood.
It can make affected bones more likely to bend, deform, or fracture, so understanding it helps explain unusual fracture patterns or bone pain.
Fibrous dysplasia happens when normal bone tissue is replaced by fibrous (scar-like) tissue during bone development. This weakens the affected bone, so it can bend, grow unevenly, or fracture more easily than normal bone. It's caused by a random genetic change that occurs after conception, so it's not usually inherited or passed on to children.
The condition can affect just one bone (monostotic) or several bones (polyostotic), and sometimes appears alongside skin pigment changes or hormone problems as part of McCune-Albright syndrome. Common sites include the femur, tibia, ribs, skull, and pelvis. Symptoms vary a lot — some people have no symptoms and find out by accident, while others have bone pain, visible deformity, or repeated fractures in the same spot.
Diagnosis typically involves imaging like X-rays or CT scans, sometimes a bone biopsy, and blood tests to rule out other bone or hormone conditions. Treatment is managed by orthopedic and endocrine specialists and may include monitoring, pain management, medications that affect bone turnover, or surgery for severe deformity or fracture risk. Any treatment decisions belong to your doctor based on your specific case.
Fibrous dysplasia replaces normal bone with weaker scar-like tissue, often explaining unusual fractures or bone pain.
Where this leads
WordA weakened bone from fibrous dysplasia can break without a big injury. Curious what else counts as a pathologic fracture.
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Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
