Abstract

Objective: To probe into the changing regularity of sclerotic skeletal fluorosis after patients changed to drink low-fluorine water for the long term. Methods: Study subjects were patients with sclerotic skeletal fluorosis who changed to drink low-fluorine water 16–25 years ago, and their sclerotic skeletal fluorosis had been proven by bone X-ray at the beginning of or prior to this change; their anteroposterior X-ray films of the pelvis, right forearm and right lower limb were taken for comparison and analysis. Results: The bone substances of all subjects improved remarkably after they changed to drink low-fluorine water for the long term, and 21.47% of them resumed a normal state. The morphology of bone trabecula was not improved for 18.75%–85.75% of cases, and dense bone trabecula became osteoporotic for most cases. The ossification of peri-osseous soft tissues worsened for 73.33% of cases and the degenerative changes of bone joints worsened for 80%. Conclusion: The bone substances of sclerotic skeletal fluorosis can improve remarkably after patients change to drink low-fluorine water for the long term, and so a portion of patients may resume the normal state. Two consequential effects of sclerotic skeletal fluorosis are osteoporosis and exacerbation of ossification of peri-osseous soft tissues.

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