Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist at Dubai Bone and Joint Center and Dr. Cathy Leibman, Director of Operations at the Emirates Arthritis Foundation (EAF), recently addressed parents from the American School of Dubai (ASD) about the issues surrounding ‘brittle bones,’ including the prevention of Osteoporosis. The informative talk was organized in association with Dubai Bone and Joint Center (DBAJ), the premier center of musculoskeletal treatment and research in the Middle East.
“Prevention is the best medicine in the case of bone health and the key is to act upon it during childhood,” stated Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist at Dubai Bone and Joint Center. “Children in the Middle East region are becoming less active and increasingly substituting milk with soda. With this decrease in exercise and vital nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, the risk for Osteoporosis later in life is much greater.”
DBAJ and EAF’s presentation to the ASD community highlighted the fact that prevention of Osteoporosis, also known as “Brittle Bone” disease, is critical and this can only occur beginning in childhood. Bones are built at the fastest rate between ages 9 and 16 with peak bone mass reached in the mid 20’s. Peak bone mass occurs when bones are the strongest and contain the most bone mineral, especially calcium. Once peak bone mass is achieved, it cannot increase further. Thus, if bone development is adversely affected in childhood, the potential for brittle bones increases although the resulting fractures may not be seen until 20 to 40 years later.
“The skeleton can be compared to a savings bank,” continued Dr. Badsha. “If parents ensure their child is receiving daily deposits of calcium, vitamin D and exercise in youth, then the built up bone mass and calcium can be accessed for ‘withdrawal’ later in life when it is needed.”
Along with the presentation to the parent community of ASD, a free bone density scan was made available to parents to test for the risk for Osteoporosis. The scan is a simple painless ultrasound of the heel and takes approximately 30 seconds per person.
Osteoporosis is a silent ailment primarily affecting women in which bones become fragile and are more likely to break. If Osteoporosis is not prevented or is left untreated, the silent disease can develop painlessly and cause life-altering bone breaks, loss of height, hunch back deformity, an impaired ability to walk, permanent disability and even death. Brittle bones can lead to an increased risk of fractures even with minimum trauma; the most serious of these fractures occur in the hip and spine and require hospitalization and surgery.
Dubai Bone & Joint Center
Dubai Bone & Joint Center (DBAJ) is a leading Muscular-Skeletal center based on the 50th floor of the Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. It is the first sub-specialty center in the region to focus on muscular-skeletal conditions and provides Western trained specialists dedicated to specific areas of orthopaedic surgery and treatment. It is also the first center to integrate clinical practice with research and education. DBAJ only recruits highly qualified Western-trained specialists dedicated to focused areas of treatment. International affiliations and accredited staff offer the most comprehensive, specialized muscular-skeletal services in the region.
The center is specialized to cater to conditions ranging from, adult and children spinal conditions, pelvic & acetabulum, pelvic & acetabular fracture and reconstructive surgery and rheumatology. It offers total joint arthroplasty; revision total joint arthroplasty and limb lengthening - limb deformity correction and infective non-union surgery, foot deformities, sports medicine, neuromuscular disorders.
