Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis

It is an uncommon, self limiting disease of the childhood.

Clinically affected children present with spinal and extraspinal symptoms with may simulate those of arthritis.

Difficulty or inability to walk may be the initial manifestation.

On radiographic examination, osteoporosis of the spine particularly the thoracic and lumbar region may be combined with vertebral collapse. Kyphosis is a characteristic spinal complication.

Although transverse and oblique fractures can occur , a more typical feature is metaphyseal injury especially about the knees and ankle. This finding is less common in osteogenesis imperfecta , the disease most likely to be confused with juvenile osteoporosis. In ostegenesis imperfecta, thin diaphyseal cortices lead to characteristic transverse fractures.