Question: how does sickle cell anemia affect the musculoskeletal system?
Answer: The shortened survival time of the erythrocytes in sickle cell (10-20 days) leads to a compensatory marrow hyperplasia throughout the skeleton. The bone marrow hyperplasia has the resultant effect of weakening the skeletal tissue by widening the medullary cavities, replacing trabecular bone and thinning cortices.