Causes of Babies Born with Broken Bones in the Womb

Babies can be born with broken bones due to a rare congenital condition called osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), which makes their bones exceptionally fragile. This condition significantly impacts a person's quality of life. OI manifests in two primary ways: skeletal issues, such as reduced bone mass leading to fragility and fractures, and scoliosis that can impair breathing, along with long bone deformities. The second set of symptoms, extraskeletal, involves collagen disorders that weaken ligaments and blood vessels. Orthopedic specialist Gabriel Klemens Wienanda explained that OI can be detected during prenatal ultrasounds by observing specific bone patterns, highlighting the importance of regular, well-equipped prenatal screenings. Children with OI are susceptible to fractures from even minor bumps or sometimes without any apparent cause. "Children with this condition are born with weak bones, so fractures can occur even before birth," Wienanda stated. Comprehensive treatment requires a multidisciplinary team, including pediatric endocrinologists, developmental specialists, and metabolic doctors, to monitor bone health and growth thoroughly. Surgical interventions for OI have advanced with new technologies. Previously, long incisions were needed to insert metal plates, but these often became unsuitable as the child grew, necessitating further surgery. The Titanium Elastic Nailing System (TENS) now allows for the insertion of nails through small incisions, less than one centimeter. This technology provides new hope, offering shorter surgery times, smaller wounds, and faster recovery. "We insert the nail from the bottom of the bone, so the wound is very small, and the child can start moving the next day," noted a doctor practicing at Eka Hospital Cibubur.

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Children with this condition are born with weak bones, so fractures can occur even before birth.