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Kyphosis - Symptoms/ Causes / Treatment

Prof. indrumator Elev

Diana-Flavia Stegaru Mara-Mihaela Colegiu

Kyphosis is an exaggerated, forward rounding of the back. It can occur at any

age but is most common in older women.

Age-related kyphosis is often due to weakness in the spinal bones that causes them
to compress or crack. Other types of kyphosis can appear in infants or teens due to
malformation of the spine or wedging of the spinal bones over time.

Mild kyphosis causes few problems. Severe kyphosis can cause pain and be
disfiguring. Treatment for kyphosis depends on your age, and the cause and effects
of the curvature.

1.Symptoms

Mild kyphosis may produce no noticeable signs or symptoms. But some people
experience back pain and stiffness in addition to an abnormally curved spine.

Is important to make an appointment with your doctor if you notice an increased curve in
your upper back or in your child's spine.

2.Causes

The individual bones (vertebrae) that make up a healthy spine look like cylinders
stacked in a column. Kyphosis occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back become
more wedge shaped.
Abnormal vertebrae can be caused by:

● Fractures. Broken or crushed vertebrae (compression fractures) can

result in curvature of the spine. Mild compression fractures often don't
produce noticeable signs or symptoms.
● Osteoporosis. This bone-thinning disorder can cause spinal curvature,
especially if weakened vertebrae result in compression fractures.
Osteoporosis is most common in older women and people who have
taken corticosteroids for long periods of time.
● Disk degeneration. Soft, circular disks act as cushions between spinal
vertebrae. With age, these disks dry out and shrink, which often worsens
kyphosis.
● Scheuermann's disease. Also called Scheuermann's kyphosis, this
disease typically begins during the growth spurt that occurs before
puberty. Boys are affected more often than girls.
● Birth defects. Spinal bones that don't develop properly before birth can
cause kyphosis.
● Syndromes. Kyphosis in children can also be associated with certain
syndromes, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome.
● Cancer and cancer treatments. Cancer in the spine can weaken
vertebrae and make them more prone to compression fractures, as can
chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments.

3.Treatment

Most cases of kyphosis don't require treatment.

Kyphosis caused by poor posture (postural kyphosis) can usually be corrected by

improving your posture.

If a child has kyphosis as a result of abnormally shaped vertebrae (Scheuermann's

kyphosis), treatment depends on factors such as:

● the person's age

● their sex
● the severity of the curve
● how flexible the curve is
The condition usually stops progressing once a child is older and has stopped
growing.

Surgery is often required for children born with congenital kyphosis.

Mild kyphosis

If you have mild to moderate kyphosis, it may be possible to control your symptoms
using painkillers and exercise.

Painkillers and exercise

Over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, can help relieve

any back pain.

Regular exercise and a course of physiotherapy may be recommended to help

strengthen the muscles in your back.

Back pain can also be helped by maintaining a healthy weight and activities which
strengthen core muscles. For example, yoga, pilates or some martial arts.

Bracing

Teenagers with mild to moderate kyphosis may need to wear a back brace. The
brace is worn while the bones are still growing and prevents the curve getting worse.

Wearing a brace may feel restrictive at first. However, most people get used to them
after a while. Modern braces are designed to be convenient, so it should still be
possible to take part in a wide range of physical activities.

You'll need to wear the brace until the spine stops growing, which is usually around
14 or 15 years old.

Bracing isn't usually recommended for adults who have stopped growing because it
won't correct the position of the spine.
Surgery

Surgery can usually correct the appearance of the back and may help to relieve pain
but it carries quite a high risk of complications.

Surgery is only recommended for more severe cases of kyphosis, where it's felt the
potential benefits of surgery outweigh the risks.

Surgery for kyphosis would usually be recommended if:

● the curve of your spine is very pronounced

● the curve is causing persistent pain that can't be controlled with medication
● the curve is disrupting your body's other important functions, such as
breathing and the nervous system
● without surgery it's likely that the structure of your spine would deteriorate
further

A technique called spinal fusion is usually used to treat kyphosis. It involves joining
together the vertebrae responsible for the curve of the spine.

During the operation, an incision is made in your back. The curve in your spine is
straightened using metal rods, screws and hooks, and your spine is fused into place
using bone grafts. Bone grafts usually use donated bone but it may taken from
another place in your body, such as the pelvis.

The procedure takes 4 to 8 hours and is carried out under general anaesthetic.

You may need to stay in hospital for up to a week after the operation, and you may
have to wear a back brace for up to 9 months to support your spine while it heals.

You should be able to return to school, college or work after 4 to 6 weeks, and be
able to play sports about a year after surgery.

Complications
Complications of spinal fusion surgery can include:

● infection after the operation

● excessive bleeding at the site of the surgery
● accidental damage to the nerves that run through the spine, which could
result in a paralysis with loss of bladder and bowel function

Before deciding whether to have spinal surgery, you should discuss the benefits and
risks with the doctor in charge of your care.

Web bibliografie :

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kyphosis/treatment/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kyphosis/symptoms-causes