What is Kyphosis? Its symptoms, causes, and complications

Posted by Logintohealth on October 26th, 2018

Are elder people only prone to Kyphosis?

Kyphosis is simply defined as the rounding of the back. It is important to consult the orthopedics in time to avoid the permanent damage and the complications. You may also become disabled in severe cases. So, it is important to know about it beforehand.

There are many problems related to the spine. Some are due to the damage and some are because of the age. But Kyphosis happens due to both. But what is kyphosis? Kyphosis can be regarded as the rounding of the back. The disease affects the spine.

What is Kyphosis?

While rounding of the back is normal but the exaggerated rounding of the back is referred to as Kyphosis. It can occur at any age. But people with old age are more prone to the disease. The age concerned kyphosis happens after the weakening of the bones and osteoporosis.  The other people are infants and teens. The reason for kyphosis in them is the wedging of the spinal bones or the malfunction of the spine.

Symptoms:

The most common symptom of kyphosis is the abnormally curved spine. The other factors are –

• It can cause back pain.
• It may often result in stiffness in the people.
• But, the mild cases, can cause no signs and symptoms.

If you feel the presence of these symptoms, immediately consult the Orthopedics.

Causes:

There are many causes of the bone. The individual bones are made up of healthy spines. These spines look like the cylinder stacked in a column. Kyphosis occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back turn into a wedge-like a shape. This deformity is due to various reasons –

• Osteoporosis – Osteoporosis is regarded as the bone-thinning disease. This can result in the compressed fractures. The disease is most common in the adults especially women because they take a high dose of corticosteroids for a longer duration.
  
  
• Birth Defects – This happens when the baby’s spinal cord region does not develop in the womb. Thi causes the spinal region to deform, hence, resulting in kyphosis.
  
  
• Various syndromes – Kyphosis in children is a result of various other symptoms of Prader-Willi disease and Marfan Syndrome.
  
  
• Cancer and its treatments – Cancer of the spine will result in the weakening of the vertebrae. This makes the vertebrae more prone to the compression fractures. So as the chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments make the person prone to the Kyphosis.
  
  
• Disk degeneration – There are various soft and circular disks that act as a cushion between the spinal vertebrae. When these disks get dry and shrink out in the old age, this results in the worst kyphosis.
  
  
• Scheuermann's disease – This typically begins during the spurt growth years. This is most common in children attained the puberty. Boys are more prone as compared to the girls. There may be a chance that the kyphosis becomes worse with the exaggerated rounding after finishing the growth years. This is also known as Scheuermann's Kyphosis.
  
  
• Slouching – Slouching may also cause an increase in the curve of the upper spine. This is also known as postural kyphosis. However, this does not cause any deformities in the spine. It is highly common for teenagers.
  
  

Complications:

Kyphosis may result in following problems and complications –

• Body posture – It may result in poor body image especially in the case of adolescents. They can correct the excessive rounding by wearing the braces.
  
  
• Decrease appetite – In very severe cases, the curve also leads the abdomen to compress. This will result in a decreased appetite.
  
  
• Back pain – In a few cases, the deformed alignment of the spine may result in severe back pain. It may also be disabling for few people.
  
  

Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the condition and consult the Orthopedics as soon as possible to avoid these complications.