ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Kyphosis

What is kyphosis?

4 May 2021

It is a condition in which the spine acquires an accentuated curvature, arching the back and giving the impression of a hump, and can occur in people of both sexes of any age, although its incidence is higher in elderly women.

When it appears due to aging, kyphosis is usually related to osteoporosis, which by weakening the vertebrae, causes fractures compressing the spine, although there are various causes such as:

  • Infectious osteoarthritis.
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Disc degeneration.
  • Injuries.
  • Spondylolisthesis.
  • Hormonal disorders.
  • Fractures.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Muscle atrophy.
  • Tumors.
  • Scheuermann’s disease.
  • Polio.
  • Scoliosis.
  • Spina bifida.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Radiotherapy.
  • Oncological disorders.

When kyphosis is moderate, the symptoms do not represent major discomfort, but when the case is serious, it produces intense pain and serious anatomical and postural problems, in addition to a series of diverse complications.

The treatment to be followed is established according to the severity of the case, the origin and degree of malformation, age, and general health of the patient.

Signs and symptoms Kyphosis

  • Stiff back.
  • Arched back in the form of a hump.
  • Spinal hypersensitivity.
  • Back pain.
  • Trouble breathing.

If you or your child have any of these symptoms, see your orthopedist for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
In addition to anatomical malformations and back pain, possible complications of kyphosis can be:

  • Breathing difficulties due to the pressure to which the lungs may be subjected.
  • Movements and physical capacity limitation.
  • Swallowing problems.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Depression.

Diagnosis and treatment Kyphosis

Once the orthopedist analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination, paying special attention to your back and the curvature of your spine, in addition to performing a neurological study that allows them to observe your muscle strength and reflexes.

They will also request a bone density test, and imaging studies such as x-rays, computed tomography, and MRI. The treatment plan will be determined based on the direct cause of the kyphosis, the degree of malformation, and the severity of the symptoms.

In mild cases, it may be a pharmacological treatment that includes painkillers and medications to strengthen the bones, in addition to physical therapy and exercise.

When the condition is more serious and there is compression of the nerves and spinal cord, surgery will be necessary to relieve the pressure and reduce the degree of malformation.

In addition to medical treatment, it is recommended to eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to strengthen the bones, as well as to eradicate the consumption of alcohol and tobacco.

At the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center, we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

Related centers and departments Kyphosis

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • centrokiros.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • kidshealth.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Guevara VF, de la Cruz ÁS, Muñiz LL. Cifosis de unión proximal en paciente con escoliosis por hemivértebra operados con artrodesis posterior. Ortho-tips. 2017;13(1):23-29.
  • Dittmar JHM. Balance sagital y escoliosis. Ortho-tips. 2015;11(3):139-143.
  • Jiménez-Ávila JM, Ortiz-García V, Ortiz-Soto R. Factor tipo «burst» de columna toracolumbar, fijación con tornillo. Acta Ortop Mex. 2013;27(3):170-176.
  • Álvarez GJC, Cruz LF, Dittmar JM, et al. Osteotomía posterior transpedicular de Leong, para corrección de cifosis toracolumbar en un paciente con mieloma múltiple. Tratamiento quirúrgico de la mielopatía cervical. Reporte de un caso. Columna. 2011;1(3):65-68.

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