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What are the signs and symptoms of kyphosis?
Parents and friends of the patient may notice that he or she has "poor posture." This may be more noticeable when the child is bending forward which tends to exaggerate the angle of kyphosis. Back pain may be present, but rarely is severe enough to keep a patient from carrying out normal activities. When present, the pain is located over the tip of the curve in the back. Sometimes, the part of the spine not affected by kyphosis curves in the opposite direction (i.e. the point of the arch toward the front of the body) creating what is called lordosis. Sometimes a small amount of scoliosis can develop as well (see Patient Guide to Scoliosis).
What causes kyphosis?
As mentioned above, kyphosis can be caused by various things. In children with poor postures, the ligaments of the spine can be stretched and the vertebrae form in an abnormal fashion. Of course, poor posture may also be the result of kyphsosis caused by other factors.
In a condition called "Sheuermann's kyphosis," the vertebrae that make up the spine take on a wedged shape instead of the normal cylindrical shape. This usually happens during adolescence and may be due to increased pressure on the growing vertebrae, mild osteoporosis (a decrease in the density of the bones), or by abnormalities in the vertebral growth cartilage.
Congenital kyphosis refers to a curvature that is present at birth. In this condition the vertebral bodies are characterized by a triangular shape and can even be fused together in front.
An increasingly common cause of kyphosis is osteoporosis, especially in the elderly or in patients taking steroids for other medical conditions.
Infections or fractures in the vertebrae can cause structural damage and can also lead to abnormal curvature (i.e. kyphosis).
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