Kyphosis
Alternate Names : Roundback, Humpback, Hunchback, Scheuermann's Disease, Dowager's Hump, Pott's Curvature
Kyphosis is the abnormal forward bending of the spine. In kyphosis, the curve of the spine is abnormal, forming a hump.
What is going on in the body?
The normal spine rounds slightly in the chest area, with arching in the lower back and neck regions. Excessive kyphosis can occur mainly in the chest area of the spine, causing the roundness of the back to appear exaggerated.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Kyphosis is generally caused by an abnormal posture. Other possible causes include:
a significant fracture of the vertebra, which can cause the back to angle forward
spinal surgery
Scheuermann's disease, which results in wedging of the vertebrae. This disease is usually seen in teenage boys, and its cause is unknown.
Pott's disease, which refers to kyphosis due to collapse of the vertebra when tuberculosis infects the spine
osteoporosis in elderly women, which causes a type of kyphosis known as dowager's hump
spinal tumors, or surgery to remove them
nerve disorders
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