The human body has a diversity of defenses to protect itself from disorders. Osteophytosis, bony growths, is one of these defense reactions.
Osteophytosis is the occurrence of osteophytes. Osteophytosis can occur because of degenerative disease.
Osteophytes are smooth excrescences, or outgrowths, of immature bone that form over time.
Another name for an osteophyte is a bone spur, a misnomer because the shape of an osteophyte isn't spiky.
Osteophytosis occurs in musculoskeletal disorders, such as neuropathic osteoarthropathy, Wilson's disease, acromegaly, macrodystrophia lipomatosa progressiva, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hypertosis DISH and osteoarthritis
Osteophytosis occurs near joints, where there has been deterioration.
The growth of bone spurs can be an attempt by the body to prevent a joint from moving, such as in arthritis of the spine.
