REVIEW

Skeletal development in premature infants: a review of bone physiology beyond nutritional aspects

F Rauch, E Schoenau

Children's Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Rauch, Shriners Hospital for Children, 1529 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A6, Canada;
frauch{at}shriners.mcgill.ca

Bone development is usually seen as a process of bone mineral accretion or increase in bone mass, and treatment of bone disorders usually consists of attempts to maximise bone mass accumulation by nutritional means only. However, from a functional perspective, bones should not be as heavy as possible, but rather as stable as necessary. It is therefore important to create conditions that stimulate bones to become more stable.

Keywords: skeletal development; premature; bone physiology

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