Osteopetrosis
Summary
Osteopetrosis, literally means "stone bone". It is an extremely rare genetic disorder whereby the bones harden and become denser. Despite this excess bone formation, people with osteopetrosis tend to have bones that are more brittle than normal.
People with osteopetrosis may present with impaired growth, frequent osteomyelitis (bone infections), vision and hearing impairment due to scleroses of skull bone and cranial nerve impingement or compressions, and neurological problems, such as weakness or numbness in the arms and legs. Treatment may include medications to increase bone density, surgery to remove bone, or to correct problems related to compression and neurovascular impingement.