Melorheostosis is very rare and nonhereditary bone disease that generally occurs in large bones of our body like fibula, tibia, femur, and patella. Melorheostosis is a form of osteosclerosis or hyperostosis and commonly found in children and adults. In melorheostosis disease the long bones becomes thick and when we take x-rays of bones, these seems like wax flowing down a candle.

Causes and symptoms:

Causes of melorheostosis are functional limitation of the affected bone or joint, increment in bone density, mutation etc.

Symptoms of melorheostosis may be progressive. Initially patient may have pains in joints, swelling in joints, and problem in movement. In severe condition of melorheostosis, symptoms like muscle contractures, tendon and ligament shortening, soft tissue problems can be seen. A patient of melorheostosis may also have anxiety, depression, obsession, severe low back pain etc.

Treatment of Melorheostosis:

As we know that changes occurs very frequently in melorheostosis so that diagnosis of melorheostosis is quite difficult. No treatment option has been found to be fully effective for melorheostosis. Exercise may help in proper functional movement of joints. Initially incorrect diagnosis may result poor or wrong treatment of melorheostosis. In severe case of melorheostosis, surgery is the last and effective treatment. By surgery, the affected joint may be replaced with other one.