Kyphosis

The most frequent abnormalities are: Lumbosacral transitional anomalies Scoliosis Hyperyphosis Hyperlordosis Rectification Spondylolysis Spondylolisthesis Vertebral arthritis Facet arthritis Spinal stenosis Fissure, protrusion and disc herniation Postoperative fibrosis Dislocation of the coccyx Atlantoaxial Dislocation Sprain Whiplash Syndrome

What it is

Kyphosis is the increase of the spinal anterior concavity.

How it takes place

It is due, in most cases, to prolonged faulty postures or due to lack of back muscle strength. Onset of pain is more a consequence of weak musculature rather than of the curvature itself.

In a small percentage of adolescents with kyphosis, the deformity is not due to faulty postures or lack of back muscle strength, but to an abnormality associated with wedged vertebrae called Scheuermann's kyphosis. It is not really a disease, but only a variation of normality. Contrary to former beliefs, it does not cause back pain nor does it increase the risk of back pain as an adult.

Finally, there are other causes of hyperkyphosis, which are not really mechanical pathologies of the back, such as tuberculous infections of the vertebrae or flattening of the vertebrae by osteoporosis.

Symptoms

This does not normally cause pain and is simply a question of appearance: viewed from the side, the curvature is such as to give a hunch-backed appearance.

Lateral view
1. Kyphosis
2. Normal

Diagnosis

Hyperkyphosis is normally directly visible. X-rays can be used to confirm this and determine the causes. To determine the cause, radionuclide imaging of the bone is sometimes necessary.

Treatment

Correcting faulty postures and doing adequate exercise, adapted by a physician for each specific case, is usually sufficient to prevent or treat the back pain that might appear. Some physicians recommend a corset for cases of Scheueremann's kyphosis that are specially serious and detected in still growing adolescents. In those cases, muscle atrophy due to the constant use of the corset must be prevented: The corset must be removed as often as prescribed by the physician and the adolescent has to exercise or swim while the corset is off.