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Living with Familial expansile osteolysis

A rare inherited bone condition with bone pain, bone changes, and hearing and tooth problems.

Understanding Familial expansile osteolysis

Familial expansile osteolysis is a rare inherited bone condition with abnormal bone remodeling.

It causes bone pain, bone bending, fractures, early hearing loss, and tooth problems. Growing areas of bone breakdown usually form in the arm and leg bones. The age at which it starts varies from childhood to adulthood.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Bone pain
  • Bone breakdown (osteolysis)
  • Bowed long bones
  • Fractures with little injury
  • Hearing loss (conductive)
  • Early tooth loss and fragile teeth

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include bone and joint specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in TNFRSF11A are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing for the TNFRSF11A gene confirm this diagnosis?
Which treatments can protect my bones and hearing?
How often should my hearing and teeth be checked?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startfrom Childhood to Adulthood
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant
GenesTNFRSF11A

Changes in the TNFRSF11A gene cause this condition. It is autosomal dominant, which means a change in one copy of the gene can cause it.

Genetic

Also known as: feo; hereditary expansile polyostotic osteolytic dysplasia; mccabe disease; polyostotic osteolytic dysplasia, hereditary expansile

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Familial expansile osteolysisGARD ID 9168 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Familial expansile osteolysis.

Explore the Familial expansile osteolysis blog

Explore research for Familial expansile osteolysis

Explore actively recruiting Familial expansile osteolysis studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Familial expansile osteolysis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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