Kyphosis and Osteoporosis

A properly aligned, healthy spine has two natural curves which help to balance the body as it moves and give it the ability to adapt to the shifting of weight. Kyphosis is a condition in which an unnatural, excessive curvature of the spine develops, causing an individual to appear to be slouching or to have a hunchback. Kyphosis usually affects the thoracic area of the spine, but it can manifest in lumbar and cervical areas. People with advanced osteoeporosis sometimes develop kyphosis, and other causes can include osteomalacia and osteonecrosis. Treatment for kyphosis depends on the type and severity of the disorder.

Kyphosis can be diagnosed through a number of ways. A doctor may first suspect the condition based on a physical examination or a patient’s recitation of symptoms such as axial back pain, tingling, weakness, or paralysis. By feeling along the spine, the physician can determine if there is a curvature outside the normal range. To confirm a diagnosis of kyphosis, doctors may order some or all of the following:

• A spinal x-ray
• An MRI
• A pulmonary function test

While some patients with milder forms of kyphosis may experience only aesthetic symptoms, such as a rounding of the back and shoulders, others experience back pain, fatigue, and soreness in the spinal area. Although most people think of kyphosis in connection with the elderly, this disorder can affect all ages, including children. The most severe cases of kyphosis can even interfere with the ability to move air in and out of the lungs. Doctors will usually consider surgical intervention or fusion of the spine when the kyphosis is thirty degrees or more or if a patient has lost more than half of his or her anterior vertebral height.

Because the types of kyphosis are so different, the treatment options also vary. Children born with congenital kyphosis could need corrective surgery during childhood to prevent damage to other parts of the body. Sometimes childhood kyphosis, caused by a condition such as Scheuermann’s disease, responds well to physical therapy and a brace. Scoliosis can result in the development of kyphosis in teenagers, and early treatment of this condition usually calls for a brace. Without early intervention, the kyphosis caused by scoliosis may require surgery and a body cast.

Older adults who develop kyphosis due to osteoporosis may only need treatment for their bone loss. If the kyphosis becomes painful or incapacitating, however, surgery is sometimes an option for relief. When a tumor or infection causes kyphosis to develop, doctors will usually choose more aggressive treatments, such as medication or surgery. Kyphosis in elderly patients may also lead to problems in their maintaining balance while walking or sitting. In addition, kyphosis can lead to bed sores because of the pressure on the skin caused by deformity of the bone.

When kyphosis goes untreated, it can lead to medical complications that are more dangerous and difficult to treat. Although there is no way to keep this disorder from developing, early intervention can reduce the likelihood of the following complications:

1. Debilitating pain in the back
2. Deformity of the neck, shoulders, or back
3. Weakness in the legs and eventual paralysis
4. Decreased oxygen intake and lung capacity