differential diagnosis

Last reviewed 01/2018

Several rare diseases may be mistaken for rickets on clinical, radiological or histological grounds. The differential includes:

• hypophosphatasia - genetic deficiency of alkaline phosphatase with both autosomal recessive and dominant forms. The recessive disease presents as gross rickets and has a poor prognosis.
• marble bone disease
• chondrodysplasia - grossly disorganised growth plates resulting in severe bow legs. Osteotomies heal normally.
• Blount's disease