Secondary Osteoporosis

What Is Secondary Osteoporosis? 

Osteoporosis means bones are weaker or less dense, which makes them break more easily.
In secondary osteoporosis, bone weakness happens because of another health condition or certain medicines.

What Causes Secondary Osteoporosis?

Secondary osteoporosis can be linked to an illness or its treatments. Some examples include:

• Conditions affecting joints or muscles: juvenile arthritis, spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy
• Limited mobility: not being able to move around or bear weight regularly
• Problems absorbing nutrients: celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
• Medications: certain cancer treatments, epilepsy medicines, or long-term steroid use

Your child’s care team will look at their full medical history to see what might be contributing to bone weakness.

What Are Signs & Symptoms of Secondary Osteoporosis?

Secondary osteoporosis has similar symptoms to other types of osteoporosis:

• Bone pain (often in the back, arms, or legs)
• Multiple fractures in the spine or long bones with very little trauma
• Physical changes such as short height, bowed legs, or trouble walking

How Is Secondary Osteoporosis Diagnosed?

Your child’s provider may:

• Check calcium and vitamin D levels with blood tests
• Order X-rays if needed
• After age 5, do a DXA scan (special x-ray) to measure bone density

Osteoporosis is diagnosed when bone density is low and your child has either a spine fracture or multiple long bone fractures. Low bone density alone does not confirm osteoporosis.

How Is Secondary Osteoporosis Treated?

Treatment focuses on both bone health and the underlying cause. This may include:

• Working closely with the doctors treating the other health condition
• Giving calcium and vitamin D supplements to improve bone strength
• Referrals to physical or occupational therapy, orthopedic surgery, or other specialists
• In some cases, medications called bisphosphonates to help prevent more fractures

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Secondary Osteoporosis?

Without treatment, osteoporosis can lead to ongoing fractures, bone pain, and bone disorders. 
With proper care and monitoring, many children see improvements and can stay active.