Current concepts of Paget's disease of bone.

Overview

Paget's disease of bone is a process of increased bone remodeling resulting in architecturally abnormal bone that may affect any area of the skeleton. Paget's disease may present with a wide variation in the clinical and radiographic picture. When symptoms arise, they depend on the site and the extent of skeletal involvement. The two major therapeutic agents available for medical treatment are calcitonin and diphosphonate. Surgical intervention in Paget's disease is indicated for (1) selected fractures, (2) severe disabling arthritis, and (3) extreme bowing deformities causing malalignment of weight-bearing joints.