Osteogenesis Imperfecta Also called: Brittle bone disease, OI Summary Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder in which bones break easily. Sometimes the bones break for no known reason. OI can also cause weak muscles, brittle teeth, a curved spine, and hearing loss. OI is caused by one of several genes that aren’t working properly. When these genes don’t work, it affects how you make collagen, a protein that helps make bones strong. OI can range from mild to severe, and symptoms vary from person to person. A person may have just a few or as many as several hundred fractures in a lifetime. No single test can identify OI. Your doctor uses your medical and family history, physical exam, and imaging and lab tests to diagnose it. Your doctor may also test your collagen (from skin) or genes (from blood). There is no cure, but you can manage symptoms. Treatments include exercise, pain medicine, physical therapy, wheelchairs, braces, and surgery. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Living With Adults Living with OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Exercise and Activity: Key Elements in the Management of OI National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Fracture Management Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Nutrition and OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation OI Issues: Dental Care for Persons with OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation OI Issues: Hearing Loss Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Preventing and Treating Compression Fractures of the Spine Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Respiratory Issues in OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Social and Emotional Issues of Living with OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Vertebral Compression Fractures Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Children Broken Bones (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Child Abuse or Osteogenesis Imperfecta? Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Infant Care Suggestions for Parents Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Planning for Your Child’s Surgery (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteogenesis Imperfecta National Institutes of Health Start Here Fast Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Osteogenesis Imperfecta Overview National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases What Is Osteogenesis Imperfecta? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Genetics Genetics Home Reference: osteogenesis imperfecta National Library of Medicine Learning about Osteogenesis Imperfecta National Human Genome Research Institute Diagnosis and Tests How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Osteogenesis Imperfecta? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Related Issues Hypophosphatasia Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Myths about OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Find an Expert National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases~National Resource Center National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Specifics OI Issues: Type I – Understanding the Mildest Form of Osteogenesis Imperfecta National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Osteogenesis Imperfecta Issues: Constipation Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Types of OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Array Osteogenesis imperfecta Journal Articles Osteogenesis Imperfecta Treatments and Therapies Rodding Surgery Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Surgery Considerations for Adults and Children Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation What Are the Treatments for Osteogenesis Imperfecta? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Statistics and Research Study in Mice Links Key Signaling Molecule to Underlying Cause of Osteogenesis Imperfecta National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Teenagers Transition from Pediatric to Adult OI Care Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Reference Desk Understanding the Structure of Bones Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Symptoms What Are the Symptoms of Osteogenesis Imperfecta? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development