Osteopetrosis in trauma.

Abstract

A 19-year-old male with a bone disease that predisposes to pathological fractures was involved in an automobile accident. Although the physician must always look for multiple injuries in any trauma patient, this case illustrates that in the patient with bone disease, the probability of multiple fractures is extremely high. The differential diagnosis of dense-bone disease is discussed as are considerations relevant to caring for the trauma patient with bone disease.