Spine curvature disorders
When viewed from the back, the spine should run straight down the middle of the back. When abnormalities of the spine occur, the natural curvatures of the spine are misaligned or exaggerated in certain areas, as occurs with lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis.
What are the types of spine curvature
There are three main types of spine curvature disorders:
• Lordosis: the spine curves significantly inward at the lower back
• Kyphosis: the condition is characterized by an excessively rounded upper back with > 50 ° curvature
• Scoliosis: patient has a sideways curve to the spine, often S-shaped or C-shaped
What is the cause for spine curvature
There are a number of health problems, conditions and complications that may cause the spine to curve more than normal or be misaligned.
The following conditions can cause lordosis:
• Achondroplasia
• Spondylolisthesis
• Osteoporosis
• Obesity
• Kyphosis
• Discitis
• Benign juvenile lordosis
The following conditions can cause kyphosis:
• Abnormal vertebrae development or congenital kyphosis
• Bad posture and slouching (postural kyphosis)
• Scheuermann's disease
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Spina bifida
• Spine infection
• Spine tumor
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a back condition that causes the (back) spine to curve to the left or right side. Most cases develop in children between the ages of 9 and 14 during the growth spurt of puberty. Scoliosis is usually mild and needs no treatment. For more severe cases treatments include a back brace or sometimes surgery to straighten the spine. A very pronounced front-to-back curve is called a kyphosis, which does not usually need treatment.
The word scoliosis comes from the Greek word meaning crooked.
The back (spine) should look straight, up and down, when you look at someone from behind. If the spine has a sideways curve, it is scoliosis.
The curve can bend to the left or to the right. The severity of the curve can vary from very mild and barely noticeable to severe.
The curve can be in the lower part of the spine (a lumbar curve), in the upper part of the spine (a thoracic curve) or go from the upper to lower part of the spine (a thoracolumbar curve). In some cases there is a double curve - an S-shape.
What are the main causes of kyphosis?
Kyphosis can occur at any age, although it is rare at birth. Adolescent kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann's disease, is caused by the wedging together in a row of several bones of the back (spine), called vertebrae. The cause of Scheuermann's disease is yet unknown.
Kyphosis can be caused by conditions affecting the spine in adults:
• Spinal Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Spina bifida.
What are the different types and causes of scoliosis
Non-structural scoliosis (functional or postural scoliosis)
In this type, the back (spine) is structurally normal, but looks curved because of another condition such as differing leg length or muscle spasm in the back muscles. The curve is usually mild and it changes or goes away when the person bends sideways or forwards.
Structural scoliosis
In these cases, the curve is fixed and doesn't go away when the person changes position.
Idiopathic Structural scoliosis
This means the cause is not known. More than 8 in 10 cases of scoliosis are idiopathic.
Neuromuscular Structural scoliosis
The curve is caused by a condition which affects muscles or nerves of the back. It may occur in some cases of muscular dystrophy, polio, cerebral palsy, or neurofibromatosis. Each of these conditions has other symptoms and problems in addition to a scoliosis.
Osteopathic Structural scoliosis
As a result of a bone abnormality.
Congenital Structural scoliosis
The spine does not form properly when a baby develops in the womb. This is a cause in around 1 in 10 cases.
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