Kyphosis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Types

Kyphosis Diagnosis

Your doctor will often measure your height as part of a thorough physical exam. You could be instructed to squat forward as the doctor examines your spine from the side. A neurological exam may also be carried out to evaluate your reflexes and muscle stamina.

The following tests may be requested:

• CT scans or X-rays. X-rays can identify vertebral abnormalities and measure the degree of curvature. In the event that your doctor needs more precise images, a CT scan might be suggested.
• MRI. MRIs can find an illness or a tumor in your spine by using radio waves and a strong magnetic field.
• Testing of the nervous system. To find out how well nerve impulses are moving from your spinal cord to your extremities, you may need tests if you are feeling numb or have weak muscles.
• Bone density evaluations. Kyphosis can worsen due to low-density bone and is frequently treated with medicine.

Kyphosis Treatment

The reason and severity of your illness will determine how your kyphosis is treated.

Medications

Treatment for kyphosis may consist of the following:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs. If over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), or naproxen sodium (Aleve) are insufficient, stronger painkillers are prescribed.
• Drugs for osteoporosis. Medication that strengthens bones may lessen your risk of developing new spinal fractures, which would exacerbate your kyphosis.

Some forms of kyphosis may be alleviated by:

• Exercises. Exercises for stretching and strengthening may assist to reduce back discomfort and increase spinal flexibility.
• Bracing. If a spine brace is worn by a child with Scheuermann's illness while their bones are still developing, they may be able to arrest the development of kyphosis.

Other surgical techniques

• The spinal cord or nerve roots may sporadically be compressed by severe kyphosis. There may be a need for surgery to fix this. The most frequent technique is spinal fusion, in which the surgeon fastens the spinal bones together in the ideal position using metal rods and screws.
• Surgery is not frequently used to treat compression fractures.

Kyphosis Prevention

You can do the following to avoid postural kyphosis:

• Maintain a straight spine
• Build back and abdominal muscles
• Keep a healthy weight
• Use a reliable roller bag or backpack
• Exercise to keep your body flexible and strong

References

Hart, E. S., Merlin, G., Harisiades, J., & Grottkau, B. E. (2010). Scheuermann's thoracic kyphosis in the adolescent patient. Orthopaedic Nursing, 29(6), 365-371.

Lee, J., & Park, Y. S. (2016). Proximal junctional kyphosis: diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. Asian spine journal, 10(3), 593-600.

Nguyen, N. L. M., Kong, C. Y., & Hart, R. A. (2016). Proximal junctional kyphosis and failure—diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 9, 299-308.

Schoenfeld, A. J., Wood, K. B., Fisher, C. F., Fehlings, M., Oner, F. C., Bouchard, K., ... & Bono, C. M. (2010). Posttraumatic kyphosis: current state of diagnosis and treatment: results of a multinational survey of spine trauma surgeons. Clinical Spine Surgery, 23(7), e1-e8.

YAMAN, O., & DALBAYRAK, S. (2014). Kyphosis: Diagnosis, classification and treatment methods. Turkish Neurosurgery, 24(1).