Center for Bone Health
There are many reasons your child may have weak bones or be at risk for developing fragile bones. It could be because of a chronic health condition, limited mobility, a restricted diet, chronic steroid use, genetic conditions or disorders in bone mineral metabolism. No matter the cause of your child's pediatric bone disorder, the Center for Bone Health at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides comprehensive bone health care to children and youth of all ages.
We recognize all children are unique, and we work closely with specialists across CHOP to ensure that each patient receives the necessary orthopedic, genetic and other clinical care specific to their individual needs.
We offer convenient on-site testing to determine bone density (densitometry or DXA) and experts to interpret the results.
How we serve you
Children with bone-related conditions are seen by our experts in our outpatient clinics and also while they are inpatient at our Philadelphia and King of Prussia hospitals.
Conditions we treat
There are a number of conditions that could directly cause your child's weak bones. But sometimes weak bones are caused indirectly by other diseases or from medical treatment for a different illness.
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Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) - Osteoporosis pseudoglioma
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Hypophosphatasia -
Juvenile idiopathic osteoporosis -
Achondroplasia and other skeletal dysplasias -
X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) -
Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) - Autosomal recessive hereditary rickets (ARHR)
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Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia -
Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) -
Fibrous dysplasia -
McCune-Albright syndrome -
Hyperparathyroidism -
Hypoparathyroidism -
Duchenne muscular dystrophy -
Spinal muscle atrophy -
Cerebral palsy -
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (hlhs) - Childhood cancer and survivors
- Bone marrow, stem cell and organ transplant recipients
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Aicardi guitereis syndrome -
Mitochondrial disorders -
Freidrichs ataxia -
Turner syndrome -
Kidney stones -
Chronic kidney disease -
Gorham Stout disease and other lymphatic disorders -
Inflammatory bowel disease
Why choose CHOP for bone health
Treating your child's bone weakness now sets them up for healthier future. Here's why CHOP is the place for comprehensive care for children who have fragile bones or who are at risk of developing fragile bones or bone metabolism problems.
Meet your team
Caring for children with weak bones takes a team with expertise in the underlying causes. Our pediatric endocrinologists are supported by nutritionists and physical therapists in each visit.
Our research
Research is a critical component of the Center for Bone Health. Our physicians lead a wide variety of studies ranging from laboratory projects investigating the biology behind bone and mineral metabolism to clinical trials of new treatments for rare bone diseases.
Preparing for your appointment
If your child has already had certain diagnostic tests before their appointment with our center, let us know that they've had these tests. We can more quickly get them on a path to improving their condition. We'll explain when you make your appointment.
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