Kyphosis

Definition

Kyphosis is also known as round back or hunchback and it is an exaggerated anteroposterior curving of the spine that may cause a bowing of the back, commonly at the thoracic but sometimes at the thoracolumbar or sacral level. The upper back or thoracic region is normally curved forward. If the curve exceeds 50 degrees, it's considered kyphotic. Mostly, it occurs in children and adults. It may worsen during adolescence or can result from compression of vertebrae that occurs with aging, particularly in women with osteoporosis.

Causes of Kyphosis

Adolescent kyphosis is also known as Scheuermann's disease, juvenile kyphosis, vertebral epiphysitis and it is the most common form of this disorder and it may result from growth retardation or a vascular disturbance in the vertebral epiphysis during periods of rapid growth or from congenital deficiency in the thickness of the vertebral plates. Other various causes include:

• Infection
• Inflammation
• Aseptic necrosis
• Injuries such as a car crash and disk degeneration

Adult kyphosis may result from:

• Aging and associated degeneration of intervertebral disks, atrophy, and osteoporotic collapse of the vertebrae
• Endocrine disorders, such as hyperparathyroidism and Cushing's disease
• Prolonged steroid therapy
• Other conditions, such as arthritis, Paget's disease, polio, compression fracture of the thoracic vertebrae, metastatic tumor, plasma cell myeloma, or tuberculosis.

Symptoms of Kyphosis

Development of adolescent kyphosis is usually insidious, commonly occurring after a history of excessive sports activity, and may be asymptomatic except for the obvious curving of the back.

In some adolescents, Kyphosis has various symptoms such as:

• Mild pain at the apex of the curve
• Fatigue
• Tenderness or stiffness in the involved area or along the entire spine
• Prominent vertebral spinous processes at the lower dorsal and upper lumbar levels, with compensatory increased lumbar lordosis, and hamstring tightness.
• Neurologic damage, such as spastic paraparesis secondary to spinal cord compression and herniated nucleus pulposus.

Adult kyphosis produces a characteristic roundback appearance, possibly associated with pain, weakness of the back, and generalized fatigue.

Treatment of Kyphosis

If you have this disease, then you should be use Possible treatment such as:

• Congenital defects usually have to be repaired surgically. Typically, hardware is surgically placed to stabilize the back bone.
• You should do corrective exercises such as pelvic tilt to decrease lumbar lordosis, hamstring stretch to overcome muscle contractures, and thoracic hyperextension to flatten the kyphotic curve. Lateral X-rays taken every 4 months evaluate correction.
• Treatment for both adolescent and adult kyphosis also includes appropriate measures for the underlying cause and, possibly, spinal arthrodesis for relief of symptoms.
• Another treatment for this disease is Corrective surgery and it includes a posterior spinal fusion with spinal instrumentation, iliac bone grafting, and plaster immobilization. Anterior spinal fusion followed by inunobilization in plaster may be necessary when kyphosis produces a spinal curve greater than 70 degrees.