Hereditary disorder of bone fragility caused
by mutations in various collagen producing
genes (Rush, 2016). This can be classified into groups.
Group A:
Collagen
structure &
function defects
(Rush, 2016)
Group C: Collagen
folding and
cross-linking
defects (Rush, 2016)
Group E:
Osteoblast
development
defects with
collagen
insufficiency
(Rush, 2016)
Group D:
Ossification or
mineralization
defects (Rush,
2016)
Group B:
Collagen
modification
defects (Rush,
2016)
TYPES?????
Epidemiology
Nursing
Considerations
Psychosocial Support
Reassure parents not to feel guilty regarding child’s diagnosis - Educate parents on how OI does not affect
a child’s ability to think and learn - Referral to genetic counsellor - Offer emotional support to both
parents and patient – demonstrate empathy, active listening, social worker referral, chaplain - Recognize
stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance and offer. Encourage families to
express these feelings and explain they are normal - Offer various resources such as: Osteogenesis
Imperfecta Foundation website (www.oif.org) and phone number: 1-800-981-2663 - Referrals to local OI
support group, pediatrician, pediatric orthopedist, physical therapist should be provided
Handling
- Educate parents with demonstration and explanation of proper holding, lifting,
feeding and general infant care procedures - Get to parents to do a return
demonstration to ensure learning has occurred - Provide reading material and
educational resources such as brochures from OI foundation etc. - Provide
teaching regarding recognizing new fractures and protecting the injured body
part while travelling to the hospital or clinic - Advise parent regarding choosing
clothing with wide openings since it’d allow for the garment to slide over the
infant’s arms or legs without pulling the limbs
Bedding and positioning
Waterbeds and soft bedding should never be used - Regular crib
mattress is recommended for a baby with OI - Position the infant
to prevent plagiocephaly: use rolled blankets/sheets or soft foam
to support side lying position
Parent teaching
- Educate parents with demonstration and explanation of
proper holding, lifting, feeding and general infant care
procedures - Get to parents to do a return demonstration to
ensure learning has occurred - Provide reading material and
educational resources such as brochures from OI foundation
etc. - Provide teaching regarding recognizing new fractures and
protecting the injured body part while travelling to the hospital
or clinic - Advise parent regarding choosing clothing with wide
openings since it’d allow for the garment to slide over the
infant’s arms or legs without pulling the limbs
Feeding
- Small, frequent feeds: babies may be poor feeders and
may have weak sucking reflex - Breast milk recommended:
excellent source of nutrition • Fosters special bond between
mother and child • If infant unable to breastfeed due to
inability to suck or risk of aspiration due to rapid
respirations: offer mom to pump breast milk and feed the
child from a bottle - Burp the baby cautiously: gently lift the
baby and soft taps with padding over hands are
recommended
Clinical
Manifestations (OI, n.d.)
Type I: Most
common/
mildest form
Bones break easily,
usually before
puberty, but
minimal bone
deformity
Sclera have
a grey,
blue, or
purple tint
Brittle
teeth
Decreased
amount of
collagen, but
normal structure
Muscle
weakness
Spinal
curvature
Hearing
loss,
starting in
the 20s-30s
Triangular
shaped
face
Type II:
Most
severe
Death at birth, or
soon after birth,
as a result of
respiratory
compromise due
to under
developed lungs
Small
stature
Many
fractures &
severe bone
deformity
Abnormally
structured
collagen
Tinted
sclera
Type
IV
Similar to
Type I & III,
with whiter
sclera
Type III
Similar to
Type I
Bones fracture
easily, with
fractures present at
birth
Possible
respiratory
issues
Barrel-shaped
rib
cage
Improperly
formed
collagen
Type
V
Similar to
Type IV,
with
normal
teeth
Bone has
mesh-like
appearance
under
microscope
Restricted
forearm rotation
due to
calcification of
the interosseous
membrane
Abnormally
large
hypertrophic
calluses at
fracture sites
Radio-opaque
band seen on
growth plate
of long bones
Type
VI
Similar to Type IV
Bone has a
fish scale
appearance
under
microscope
Type
VII
Similar to Type IV,
but results from
recessive
inheritance of a
mutation to the
CRTAP gene (Ward
et al., 2002)
X-rays: fractures
that are at
different stages of
healing; Wormian
bones of the skull;
"codfish vertebrae"
of the spine
Biochemical
testing: collagens
taken from a
small skin biopsy,
where changes in
type I collagen
are an indication
of OI
DNA sequencing: COL1A1
and COL1A2 is used to
identify the type I collagen
gene mutation responsible
for the altered collagen
protein Children need
additional testing of less
common collagen genes
(CRTAP and P3H (LEPRE1))
responsible for some of the
rare recessive forms of OI