A 6 year old male child with tenderness and weakness of lower extremities. Radiographs of the knee have been taken.
Radiographs show almost all features possible seen in scurvy.
The classical ground glass osteoporosis, cortical thinning, halo ossification center, lateral spurs, and subperiosteal hematomas. A deficiency of ascorbic acid causes abnormal function of the osteoblast and defective osteogenesis resulting in osteoporosis. Normal plasma level of ascorbic acid is 0.6 mg per 100 ml, so a lab value of at least this level excludes scurvy. This is due to an intensification of the zone of preparatory calcification, resulting from matrix formation failing, is has been referred to as the white line of Frankel, but is non-specific, as it is also seen in healing rickets, and lead or phosphorus poisoning. This appears at the end of the shaft with blurring or disappearance of trabecular markings.