The life expectancy of someone with brittle bone disease depends on the type of brittle bone disease they have and how severe it is.
People with type II OI brittle bone disease often have a lifespan of 10 years and live to be around 10 years old.
Babies born with Type II brittle bone disease which is the most severe may only live a year after being born.
For the less severe cases of brittle bone disease the life expectancy can be normal and many live to be 76 years old and sometimes older.
People that are born with the most severe forms of brittle bone disease may die during infancy.
However, most people who receive supportive care and medical management can expect to lead healthy, productive lives with average life span with brittle bone disease.
Brittle bone disease is a genetic disorder which causes a persons bones to break easily and is also known as osteogenesis imperfecta.
Symptoms of brittle bone disease include.
Decreased bone density.
Increased susceptibility to bone fractures.
Blue sclerae or a bluish color in the whites of the eyes.
Short stature.
Weak muscles.
Hearing loss in adulthood
Brittle teeth.
Curved spine.
The causes of brittle bone disease is a defect in the genes which carry the instructions for making type I collagen which is a bone material in the bones that make the bones strong.
There is no cure for brittle bone disease but things such as splints and casts, braces, physical therapy, medicine to make the bones stronger, surgery and special dental work can help manage the condition.