Category: Skeletal System

Categories : Cancer Skeletal SystemTags : Leave a comment

Space-age Lessons Could Protect Childhood Cancer Survivors’ Bone Health

On By ModernMedia
Corresponding author Kiri Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA, St. Jude Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, working with a patient.

Space has inspired and delighted people for centuries. The much-anticipated advent of crewed spaceflight taught invaluable lessons, even for the most unexpected groups back on terra firma. In the 1960s, astronauts returned from microgravity with decreased bone density. This decrease revealed that bones must undergo constant stress to grow and maintain themselves.

Survivors of childhood cancer, while seemingly unrelated to astronauts in the weightlessness of space, are one group unexpectedly impacted by this revelation. These two distinct groups share a connection in the loss of bone density occurring during a significant life event. Children receiving cancer treatment are often sedentary due to their therapy. Their listlessness mimics microgravity’s effect on astronauts, while the treatment itself may also negatively impact their bone health.

Recent research spearheaded by first author Chelsea Goodenough, PhD, St. Jude Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, characterised bone mineral density loss in survivors of childhood cancer. Published in JAMA Network Open, her study looked at survivors five or more years after treatment using the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (St. Jude LIFE). She found that survivors were more likely than age-matched peers to experience low bone mineral density. Low bone mineral density predicted a higher chance of lacking independence, including being unemployed or requiring a personal care attendant, highlighting the need to find ways to intervene to protect and promote survivors’ bone health.

“Glucocorticoids given during cancer therapy can act as a giant hammer to bone mineral density,” said corresponding author Kiri Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA, St. Jude Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control. “We found that this loss could have long-term consequences for survivors. We saw 30-year-olds that functionally looked like they were in their 70s and 80s, showing the need for early interventions after treatment.”  

Modifiable factors influence survivors’ bone mineral density

“The unique aspect of this study is that we calculated the extent to which different factors contributed to loss of bone density,” Ness said. “That gives us a starting place to design interventions.”

Bone loss decades after treatment could be related to therapy, something investigators can’t change after the fact, but potentially modifiable factors could also be contributing. The St. Jude researchers wanted to see if they could identify any modifiable factors that could point to protective interventions for further investigation.

“We found that about 33% of bone density loss was due to cranial radiation for those who received it,” Ness explained. “But about 25% of the deficit was related to hormone deficiencies, such as hypogonadism.” Hypogonadism is a common consequence of childhood cancer therapy. During treatment, the patient receives hormone-disrupting chemicals, sometimes resulting in an extended deficiency of testosterone or oestrogen and human growth hormone. These three hormones are known to have significant impacts on bone health. Since hormone replacement therapies already exist, the study has identified an area for potential pharmaceutical intervention to address hypogonadism to improve bone density among survivors of childhood cancer. 

Lifestyle changes can impact bone health

“Compared to hypogonadism, smoking and sedentary behaviour were responsible for a smaller but still significant decrease in bone density,” Ness said. “But we already have interventions for both; we just need to test them for their effect on bone mineral density.”

Sedentary behaviour is a common experience during treatment. “Understandably, kids don’t feel good during cancer therapy,” Ness explained. “So, they lay in bed.” Lying in bed acts like microgravity: The kids don’t put stress on their bones, resulting in bone loss. However, survivors can prevent this with physical activity. Exercise has already been shown to help protect cardiovascular health among survivors, so the research provides another potential motivation for exercise.

Ness, whose research focuses on lifestyle interventions to support survivors of childhood cancer, already promotes the positives of physical activity. Her insistence, bolstered by this study, has gained her a reputation among patients. “The kids on the floor call me the ‘exercise lady,’” Ness proudly acknowledged. “When they see me, they say, ‘Here she comes, the exercise lady is here.’”

Physical activity to improve bone health could be as simple as jumping or as elaborate as a dedicated heavy weight-lifting programme. The increased activity will likely promote bone maintenance and, hopefully, growth, a parallel to the exercise programme astronauts undergo upon returning from space to re-establish their bone mass.

While exercise is one way in which survivors can improve their bone health, the study also suggested that those who develop a smoking habit may have one more reason to quit. Survivors who smoked were more likely to have a moderate or severe bone mineral density deficit, along with a host of other problems.

“Smoking is just a bad idea for survivors,” Ness said. “Smoking causes a lot of ill effects, not just bone loss. So, we need to encourage young cancer survivors never to start and give cessation interventions to those that have.” Over 20% of survivors in the study currently smoked, indicating a significant opportunity for intervention.

Better understanding means more chances to help

By attributing the sources of bone mineral density loss, the St. Jude scientists have created a roadmap for exploring potential interventions. The ultimate goal is to give survivors of childhood cancer as much independence as possible to take control of their futures.

“I want survivors to know that if they have low bone mineral density, it’s not an insurmountable problem,” Ness said. “You can be proactive – by being physically active, avoiding smoking and making sure your physician understands your chronic health condition. That’s how you give yourself the best chance of having an independent life as an adult, chasing your dreams.” 

Maybe, one day, they could even become an astronaut.

Written by Alex Generous, PhD.

Source: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Categories : Skeletal SystemTags :

Beyond Hormones: Researchers Define X and Y Chromosome Contributions to Height

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Monstera on Pexels

A Geisinger study provides new insight into height differences between adult men and women, demonstrating that Y chromosome genes contribute more to height than their X chromosome counterparts, independent of male sex determination. The results were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Typical females have two X chromosomes, while typical males have one X and one Y chromosome. The differences between the X and Y chromosomes cause hormonal differences between males and females, but these differences have been insufficient to explain the average 13cm height difference between the sexes.

“Because height shows a large and reproducible difference between sexes and is widely measured, it serves as a valuable model for investigating the genomic factors underlying sex differences,” said Matthew Oetjens, Ph.D., assistant professor in Geisinger’s Department of Developmental Medicine and one of the study leads.

The Geisinger research team sought to determine the effects of sex-related factors on human height by examining height in people with an abnormal number of X or Y chromosomes, a genetic condition known as sex chromosome aneuploidy.

The team analysed genetic and clinical data on nearly one million participants enrolled in Geisinger’s MyCode Community Health Initiative, the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us cohort and the UK Biobank. Of these participants, 1225 had a sex chromosome aneuploidy. By incorporating people with more or fewer than two sex chromosomes into a model of height, they found that exchanging an X for a Y chromosome increased height by 3.1cm, independent of other sex-related factors, including hormonal differences. This result suggests that an estimated 23% of the average difference in height between men and women is explained by increased expression of shared genes on the Y chromosome relative to the X chromosome.

“Beyond its implications for understanding human height, this study provides broader insights into how sex chromosome aneuploidy research can uncover the mechanisms behind observed sex differences in various medical conditions,” said Alexander Berry, PhD, bioinformatics scientist and study co-lead.

SHOX, a gene found on both the X and Y chromosomes, is a known contributor to human height, but because two copies are found in both men and women, it has not been considered a likely contributor to the sex difference in height. However, recent studies have shown that SHOX is partially silenced on the second X chromosome in individuals with two or more X chromosomes. The Geisinger study’s results are consistent with the hypothesis that reduced SHOX expression in females results in a net difference in height between the sexes.

Source: Geisinger Health System

Categories : Skeletal SystemTags :

Obesity Found to be a Leading Cause of Knee Osteoarthritis

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya

New research from the University of Sydney reveals that obesity, having a knee injury and occupational risks such as shift work and lifting heavy loads are primary causes of knee osteoarthritis.

The study also found that following a mediterranean diet, drinking green tea and eating dark bread could reduce the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

Published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the study was led by Associate Professor Christina Abdel Shaheed and Dr Vicky Duong.

Using data from 131 studies conducted between 1988 to 2024, the researchers examined over 150 risk factors in participants ranging from 20 to 80 years old to determine which were associated with an increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. 

“Our research found that while factors such as eating ultra-processed foods and being overweight increase the risk, addressing lifestyle factors – such as losing weight or adopting a better diet – could significantly improve people’s health,” Associate Professor Abdel Shaheed said.

Co-author Professor David Hunter, a researcher at the Kolling Institute and Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, said: “Women were twice as likely to develop the condition than men, and older age was only mildly associated with increased risk.”

Reducing the risk of knee osteoarthritis

Dr Duong, lead author and post-doctoral researcher at the Kolling Institute, said: “Eliminating obesity and knee injuries combined could potentially reduce the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis by 14 percent across the population.

“We urge governments and the healthcare sector to take this seriously and to implement policy reforms that address occupational risks, subsidise knee injury prevention programs, and promote healthy eating and physical activity to reduce obesity.”

Source: University of Sydney

Categories : Skeletal System Surgeries & ProceduresTags :

How Might ACL Surgery Increase the Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis?

On By ModernMedia
Anterior cruciate ligament injury. Credit Wikimedia/BruceBlaus CC4.0

Some individuals who have had anterior-cruciate-ligament reconstruction (ACLR), the kind of surgery often performed on athletes’ knees, may develop early-onset knee osteoarthritis. A new study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research indicates that altered knee joint movement after ACLR could be a contributing factor. 

The study used a unique dynamic X-ray imaging system to accurately measure knee joint movement during walking in people who had undergone ACLR surgery and those with healthy knees. Compared with healthy controls, ACLR patients had a higher vertical position of the patella and a higher location of articular contact between the patella and the femur. A higher riding patella in the ACLR patients was caused by a longer-than-normal patellar tendon, the structure connecting the patella to the tibia. A surprising finding was that a higher riding patella was observed in both the ACLR knee and the uninjured contralateral knee of the ACLR patients. 

Investigators suspect that a higher riding patella may contribute to the development of knee osteoarthritis by shifting the load bearing areas between the patella and the femur to regions of cartilage unaccustomed to load and leaving previously loaded regions unloaded. 

“We don’t know whether a longer-than-normal patellar tendon that resulted in a higher riding patella existed prior to the ACL injury or resulted from the ACL injury or ACLR surgery. Further research is needed to determine the cause of a longer-than-normal patellar tendon in individuals who have undergone ACLR surgery,” said corresponding author Marcus G. Pandy, PhD, MEngSc, of the University of Melbourne, in Australia. 

Source: Wiley

Categories : Skeletal SystemTags :

Inflammation Pathways are Linked to Changes in Bone Mineral Density over Time

On By ModernMedia
Osteoporosis. Credit: Scientific Animations CC4.0

In one of the first studies of its kind, a team of researchers from Keck School of Medicine of USC has found that proteins and pathways involved in inflammation are associated with changes in bone mineral density (BMD) over time. Findings from the study were published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

The research, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health, could potentially lead to the identification of biomarkers that would serve as early indicators of a person’s risk for bone health issues later in life.

Bone mineral density is a measure of bone strength quantified by the amount of minerals in bone tissue. It peaks during young adulthood and slowly declines over the rest of the life cycle. BMD serves as an important marker for bone health and is commonly used to predict the risk of osteoporosis and other bone health conditions.

“Proteins are also substantial in the formation and maintenance of bone, and recently more studies have been trying to identify individual proteins associated with bone health,” says Emily Beglarian, the lead author and an epidemiology doctoral candidate in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine.

The study followed 304 obese/overweight Latino adolescents between the ages of 8 to 13 at baseline from the Study of Latino Adolescents at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes over an average period of three years. The researchers examined associations between over 650 proteins and annual measures of BMD, making this one of the first studies to evaluate these associations over years of follow-up. The proteins found to be associated with BMD were then inputted into a protein pathway database.

“The software determined what pathways the proteins were involved in within the human body. Our primary findings were that many of the proteins associated with BMD were involved in inflammatory and immune pathways in adolescent populations. There are other studies that found some of these same pathways were associated in older adult populations,” says Beglarian.

Existing studies suggest chronic inflammation can disrupt normal bone metabolism leading to lower BMD.

Importance of inclusive research

Childhood is a critical period for the development of BMD and this period can predict lifelong bone health.

“Until now, existing studies have centred on very specific populations. Most of them have small sample sizes, include either Chinese or non-Hispanic white populations, and focus on older adults – primarily on women because osteoporosis is four times more common in women than men,” says Beglarian.

“This is one of the first studies to investigate associations between proteins and BMD in younger populations. Investigating bone mineral density in early stages of life is important to determine how to address factors that may prevent people from reaching their potential peak bone density,” says Beglarian.

Advancing the understanding of bone health biomarkers

Additionally, Beglarian examined associations between BMD and a subset of protein markers from the initial proteins, in a separate cohort of young adults. Here she found that several proteins had similar associations with lower BMD. Low BMD is a risk factor for development of adulthood osteopenia and osteoporosis.

The study’s findings could potentially inform the development of biomarkers of bone health to identify people at risk that might benefit from intervention.

“It was interesting to see the way in which our study overlapped and differed with existing studies. Previous research was investigating BMD at the end of life when levels are already much lower,” she says. “Through my research I hope to address factors that decrease BMD earlier in life to help people get to their highest potential peak density, so they are set up over the rest of their lifetime to have a higher BMD.”

Source: Keck School of Medicine of USC

Categories : Skeletal SystemTags :

Discovery of New Skeletal Tissue Holds Promise for Regenerative Medicine

On By ModernMedia
“Lipocartilage” is a type of supportive skeletal tissue, that consists of densely packed, bubble-like cells containing fat. This image shows a scan of mouse ear lipocartilage stained with a green fluorescent dye. Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences

An international research team led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered a new type of skeletal tissue that offers great potential for advancing regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Most cartilage relies on an external extracellular matrix for strength, but “lipocartilage,” which is found in the ears, nose and throat of mammals, is uniquely packed with fat-filled cells called “lipochondrocytes” that provide super-stable internal support, enabling the tissue to remain soft and springy – similar to bubbled packaging material.

The study, published in the journal Science, describes how lipocartilage cells create and maintain their own lipid reservoirs, remaining constant in size. Unlike ordinary adipocyte fat cells, lipochondrocytes never shrink or expand in response to food availability.

“Lipocartilage’s resilience and stability provide a compliant, elastic quality that’s perfect for flexible body parts such as earlobes or the tip of the nose, opening exciting possibilities in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, particularly for facial defects or injuries,” said corresponding author Maksim Plikus, UC Irvine professor of developmental and cell biology. “Currently, cartilage reconstruction often requires harvesting tissue from the patient’s rib – a painful and invasive procedure. In the future, patient-specific lipochondrocytes could be derived from stem cells, purified and used to manufacture living cartilage tailored to individual needs. With the help of 3D printing, these engineered tissues could be shaped to fit precisely, offering new solutions for treating birth defects, trauma and various cartilage diseases.”

Dr Franz Leydig first recognised lipochondrocytes in 1854, when he noted the presence of fat droplets in the cartilage of rat ears, a finding that was largely forgotten until now. With modern biochemical tools and advanced imaging methods, UC Irvine researchers comprehensively characterised lipocartilage’s molecular biology, metabolism and structural role in skeletal tissues.

They also uncovered the genetic process that suppresses the activity of enzymes that break down fats and reduce the absorption of new fat molecules, effectively locking lipochondrocytes’s lipid reserves in place. When stripped of its lipids, the lipocartilage becomes stiff and brittle, highlighting the importance of its fat-filled cells in maintaining the tissue’s combination of durability and flexibility. In addition, the team noted that in some mammals, such as bats, lipochondrocytes assemble into intricate shapes, like parallel ridges in their oversized ears, which may enhance hearing acuity by modulating sound waves.

“The discovery of the unique lipid biology of lipocartilage challenges long-standing assumptions in biomechanics and opens doors to countless research opportunities,” said the study’s lead author, Raul Ramos, a postdoctoral researcher in the Plikus laboratory for developmental and regenerative biology. “Future directions include gaining an understanding of how lipochondrocytes maintain their stability over time and the molecular programs that govern their form and function, as well as insights into the mechanisms of cellular aging. Our findings underscore the versatility of lipids beyond metabolism and suggest new ways to harness their properties in tissue engineering and medicine.”

Source: University of California – Irvine

Categories : Skeletal SystemTags :

Researchers Develop New Test for Early Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz on Unsplash

Diagnosing osteoarthritis often occurs in the late stages when cartilage degradation is severe, making it difficult to distinguish it from other types of arthritis and to determine the best treatment plan. In work published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, investigators have developed and tested a new diagnostic test that uses two markers found in the synovial fluid of patients’ joints.

After assessing levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and interleukin‐8, the team came up with an algorithm based on the ratio of these two markers and validated its efficacy in differentiating osteoarthritis from inflammatory arthritis in 171 human knee synovial fluid specimens.

“This study addresses an unmet need for objective diagnosis of osteoarthritis to improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes,” said corresponding author Daniel Keter, BA, of CD Diagnostics, A Division of Zimmer Biomet.

Source: Wiley

Categories : Regenerative Medicine Skeletal SystemTags :

A Revolutionary Coral-inspired Material for Bone Repair

On By ModernMedia
(Left) An image of a 3D-printed material implanted in vivo for 4 weeks. The photo was taken using a scanning electron microscope. Credit: Dr Zhidao Xia.
(Right) A photo of coral. Credit: Jesus Cobaleda.

Researchers at Swansea University have developed a revolutionary bone graft substitute inspired by coral which not only promotes faster healing but dissolves naturally in the body after the repair is complete.

This groundbreaking research, led by Dr Zhidao Xia from Swansea University Medical School in collaboration with colleagues from the Faculty of Science and Engineering and several external partners, has been patented and published in the leading journal Bioactive Materials.

Bone defects caused by conditions like fractures, tumours, and non-healing injuries are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Traditionally, doctors use either a patient’s own bone (autograft) or donor bone (allograft) to fill these gaps. However, these methods come with challenges, including a limited supply, the risk of infection and ethical concerns.

By using advanced 3D-printing technology, the team have developed a biomimetic material that mimics the porous structure and chemical composition of coral-converted bone graft substitute, blending perfectly with human bone and offering several incredible benefits:

  • Rapid Healing – It helps new bone grow within just 2–4 weeks.
  • Complete Integration – The material naturally degrades within 6–12 months after enhanced regeneration, leaving behind only healthy bone.
  • Cost-Effective – Unlike natural coral or donor bone, this material is easy to produce in large quantities.

In preclinical in vivo studies, the material showed remarkable results: it fully repaired bone defects within 3–6 months and even triggered the formation of a new layer of strong, healthy cortical bone in 4 weeks.

Most synthetic bone graft substitutes currently on the market can’t match the performance of natural bone. They either take too long to dissolve, don’t integrate well, or cause side effects like inflammation. This new material overcomes these problems by closely mimicking natural bone in both structure and biological behaviour.

Dr Xia explained: “Our invention bridges the gap between synthetic substitutes and donor bone. We’ve shown that it’s possible to create a material that is safe, effective, and scalable to meet global demand. This could end the reliance on donor bone and tackle the ethical and supply issues in bone grafting.”

Innovations like this not only promise to improve patient quality of life but also reduce healthcare costs and provide new opportunities for the biomedical industry.

The Swansea University team is now looking to partner with companies and healthcare organisations to bring this life-changing technology to patients around the world.

Source: Swansea University

Categories : Implants and Prostheses Skeletal SystemTags :

Study Identifies Hip Implant Materials with Lowest Risk of Revision

On By ModernMedia
Photo by DanR on Flickr

Hip implants with a delta ceramic or oxidised zirconium head and highly crosslinked polyethylene liner or cup had the lowest risk of revision during the 15 years after surgery, a new University of Bristol-led study has found. The research could help hospitals, surgeons and patients to choose what hip implant to use for replacement surgery.

The aim of the study, which appears in PLOS Medicine, was to establish hip implant materials at risk of revision. This would help orthopaedic surgeons, and patients, and to improve shared decision making before surgery by identifying hip implants with the lowest risk of revision.

The researchers analysed the UK’s National Joint Registry (NJR) data from 1 026 481 hip replacement patients carried out in the NHS and private sectors in England and Wales for up to 15 years after initial hip replacement operations (between 2003 to 2019). 

After reviewing hip implants from the NJR data, the research team found the risk of revision following a hip replacement is influenced by the type of material used in the bearing surface. Bearing surfaces are the moving parts of an artificial hip joint that glide against each other during activity.

The data indicated that hip implants with a delta ceramic or oxidised zirconium head and highly crosslinked polyethylene liner or cup had the lowest risk of revision throughout the 15 years following hip replacement surgery.

These findings were confirmed when the research team investigated the specific reasons for revision hip replacements being performed.  The data also showed 20 869 (2%) of hip replacement patients had to undergo revision after the initial surgery.

Senior author Dr Erik Lenguerrand, Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics and Quantitative Epidemiologist in the Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS), said: “Our research has found the risk of hip replacement revision depends on the hip implant materials used in the original surgery.  The lowest risk of revision are from implants with delta ceramic or oxidised zirconium head and a highly crosslinked polyethylene (HCLPE) liner or cup.

“Further research is needed to find out the association of implant materials with the risk of rehospitalisation, re-operation other than revision, mortality and the cost-effectiveness of these materials.”

Michael Whitehouse, Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedics at Bristol Medical School: THS, and senior clinical lead for the paper, explained: “Our study has used data from one of the largest registries in the world that includes all public and private health care sectors in England and Wales. This means that the data is more generally applicable than that available previously, which was limited by broad groupings of implant types or much smaller study size. It highlights the importance of considering the whole structure that is created when implants are put together to make up a hip replacement rather than focusing on individual components.

“Our findings will help hospitals, surgeons and patients to choose hip implants and combinations of them with the lowest risk of revision following an initial hip replacement operation.”

Tim Wilton, Medical Director of the National Joint Registry (NJR), added: “We are always delighted when the data from the NJR can be used by researchers to produce important research of this kind which gives meaningful analysis to guide surgeons and patients in their decisions. An important value of the NJR data is that it allows researchers a unique insight to assess the long-term performance of different hip implant materials.

“By tracking the combinations of materials used and subsequent revision rates, this research highlights the role of implant material choice in surgical outcomes. This ensures that the materials used can be optimised for longevity and patient health. Surgeons would be well advised to study these findings carefully in relation to the implant choices they make, and to use the information in pre-operative discussions with their patients. As the demand for joint replacements continues to rise, this insight can be invaluable in reducing revision surgery.”

The research was not a randomised controlled trial and therefore it was not possible to control all factors that can influence the risk of revision.

The categorisation of hip implants used as part of hip replacements is often broad in national joint replacement surgery registries and does not fully show differences in revision risks associated within the different types of implant materials grouped together.

Source: University of Bristol

Categories : General Interest Skeletal SystemTags :

Why Breakdancing can Give You a Cone-shaped Head

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Zac Ong on Unsplash

Adam Taylor, Lancaster University

For those of a certain age, Coneheads is an iconic 90s film. But for breakdancers, it seems, developing a cone-shaped head can be an occupational hazard.

According to a 2024 medical case report, a breakdancer who’d been performing for 19 years was treated for “headspin hole”, a condition also known as “breakdancer bulge” that’s unique to breakdancers. It entails a cone shaped mass developing on top of the scalp after repetitive head-spinning. Additional symptoms can include hair loss and sometimes pain around the lump.

Approximately 30% of breakdancers report hair loss and inflammation of their scalp from head-spinning. A headspin hole is caused by the body trying to protect itself. The repeated trauma from head-spinning causes the epicranial aponeurosis – a layer of connective tissue similar to a tendon, running from the back of your head to the front – to thicken along with the layer of fat under the skin on top of the head in an attempt to protect the bones of skull from injury.

The body causes a similar protective reaction to friction on the hands and feet, where callouses form to spread the pressure and protect the underlying tissues from damage. Everyday repetitive activities from holding smartphones or heavy weights through to poorly fitting shoes can result in callouses.

But a cone-shaped head isn’t the only injury to which breakdancers are prone, however. Common issues can include wrist, knee, hip, ankle, foot and elbow injuries, and moves such as the “windmill” and the “backspin” can cause bursitis – inflammation of the fluid filled sacs that protect the vertebrae of the spine. A headspin hole isn’t the worst injury you could sustain from breakdancing either. One dancer broke their neck but thankfully they were lucky enough not to have any major complications.

Others, such as Ukrainian breakdancer Anna Ponomarenko, have experienced pinched nerves that have left them paralysed. Ponomarenko recovered to represent her country in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

As with other sports, it’s unsurprising to hear that the use of protective equipment results in the reduction of injuries in breakdancing too.

But breakdancers aren’t the only ones to develop cone shaped heads.

Newborns

Some babies are born with a conical head after their pliable skull has been squeezed and squashed during the journey through the vaginal canal and the muscular contractions of mother’s uterus.

A misshapen head can also be caused by caput secundum, where fluid collects under the skin, above the skull bones. Usually, this condition resolves itself within a few days. Babies who’ve been delivered using a vacuum assisted cup (known as a Ventouse) – where the cup is applied to the top of the baby’s head to pull them out – can develop a similar fluid lump called a chignon.

Vacuum assisted delivery can also result in a more significant lump and bruising called a cephalohematoma, where blood vessels in the bones of the skull rupture. This is twice as common in boys than in girls and resolves within two weeks to six months.

If you’ve ever seen newborns wearing tiny hats in the first few hours of their life, then one of these conditions may be the reason.

Some children may also present with “cone-head” due to craniosynostosis, which occurs in about one in every 2000-2500 live births.

Newborn skulls are made up of lots of small bony plates that aren’t fused together, which enables babies’ brains to grow without restriction. Usually, once the brain reaches a slower growth pace that the bones can keep up with, the plates fuse together. In craniosynostosis, the plates fuse together too early creating differently shaped heads. Surgery can prevent brain growth restriction but is usually unnecessary if the child hasn’t been identified as having an shaped head by six months of age.

Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, Lancaster University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.