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The Bone Health History and Physical Examination in Adolescents

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A Practical Approach to Adolescent Bone Health

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Abstract

The adolescent skeleton is a dynamic organ that is impacted by a wide variety of biological, hormonal, and behavioral processes. The bone-focused history and physical examination (H&P) is the primary care clinician’s best tool for eliciting the complex information needed to evaluate bone health in adolescent patients. While core elements of the H&P remain consistent, a bone-focused evaluation includes specific considerations to target the factors that affect skeletal health. This chapter will provide guidance in evaluating adolescents with known or suspected bone disorders, with an emphasis on recognizing features that contribute to skeletal disease and identifying opportunities to promote bone health.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section on Skeletal Disorders and Mineral Homeostasis, Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Alison M. Boyce

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  1. Alison M. Boyce
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Correspondence to Alison M. Boyce .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Divisions of Adolescent Medicine and of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Sarah Pitts

  2. Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Catherine M. Gordon

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Boyce, A.M. (2018). The Bone Health History and Physical Examination in Adolescents. In: Pitts, S., Gordon, C. (eds) A Practical Approach to Adolescent Bone Health . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72880-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72880-3_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-72879-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-72880-3

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