Kyphosis
Alternative Names
Scheuermann's disease; Roundback; Hunchback; Postural kyphosis
Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing (in severe cases)
-
Fatigue
- Mild back pain
- Round back appearance
- Tenderness and stiffness in the spine
Signs and tests
Physical examination
by a health care provider confirms the abnormal curve of the spine. The doctor will also look for any nervous system (neurological) changes (weakness, paralysis, or changes in sensation) below the curve.
Other tests may include:
-
Spine x-ray
-
Pulmonary function tests
(if kyphosis affects breathing)
-
MRI
(if there may be a tumor, infection, or neurological symptoms)
Review Date: 07/17/2008
Reviewed By: Andrew L Chen, MD, MS, Orthopedist, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton,
NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the
American Accreditation HealthCare Commission
(
www.urac.org).