Kyphosis is a curving of the spine that causes a bowing of the back, which leads to a hunchback or slouching posture.
Alternative Names
Scheuermann's disease; Roundback; Hunchback; Postural kyphosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Kyphosis is a spinal deformity that can result from trauma, developmental problems, or degenerative disease. Kyphosis can occur at any age, although it is rare at birth.
Adolescent kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann's disease, results from the wedging together of several consecutive vertebrae (bones of the spine). The cause of Scheuermann's disease is unknown.
In adults, kyphosis can be a result of osteoporotic compression fractures (fractures caused by
Other causes of kyphosis include the following:
- Infection (such as
tuberculosis ) -
Neurofibromatosis - Connective tissue disorders
-
Muscular dystrophy -
Spina bifida (a birth defect involving incomplete formation of part of the spine) - Disk degeneration
- Certain
endocrine diseases -
Paget's disease -
Polio - Tumors
Kyphosis can also be seen in association with scoliosis (an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine seen in children and adolescents). Risk factors are related to the causes.
