Normal Anatomy

The thoracic spine naturally has some kyphosis. A kyphotic spinal deformity really means there is too much kyphotic curve in the spine.The thoracic spine is made up of the middle 12 vertebrae of your spine. The normal amount of curve in the thoracic spine is considered to be from 20 to 40 degrees within the entire thoracic spine. There is a range because the amount of “normal” curve varies from person to person

Kyphosis can have varying symptoms and degrees of severity, from minor changes in the shape of back, to severe deformity, nerve problems, and chronic pain.

Symptoms And Causes of Kyphosis :

Signs and symptoms may include

• Back pain
• Sciatica
• Paraplegia
• Cosmetic disfigurement
• Stooped posture.

Causes

• Postural kyphosis, or “round back”
• Scheuermann’s Kyphosis.
• Congenital Kyphosis
• Paralytic Disorders
• Spinal Trauma
• Osteoporosis
• Tuberculosis
• Spondylosis
• Inflammatory (Ankylosing Spondylitis)
• Spinal tumour
• Post-Surgical Kyphosis

Complications / Test and Diagnosis for Kyphosis :

Complications

While most people with kyphosis have a mild form of the disorder, kyphosis may sometimes cause complications, including:

• Lung and heart malfunctioning
• Back problems
• Easy fatiguability
• Poor Cosmetic Appearance

Tests and Diagnosis

Medical history: This involves talking to the patient and the patient’s parent(s) and reviewing the patient’s records to look for medical problems that might be causing the spine to curve, for example, birth defects, trauma, or other disorders that can be associated with kyphosis.

Physical examination: This includes alook at the patient’s back, chest, pelvis, legs, feet, and skin. This mean first trying to get a “mental picture” of how the spine is curved from examining your back and watching you move about. Your doctor will look at the flexibility you have bending in certain directions.A neurological examination is done to check for Muscle weakness, Numbness, Abnormal reflexes X-ray evaluation. An x ray of the spine can confirm the diagnosis of kyphosis. The magnitude and type of kyphosis is measured on xray.

Additional imaging tests may be recommended, depending on the case to case basis.

These include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computerized tomography (CT scan)
• Bone scan, EMG/NCV

Treatment

Kyphosis has a variety of treatment options. Whenever possible, the first choice of treatment for kyphosis is always going to be conservative. Conservative treatment that is commonly recommended includes: medications, exercise, and certain types of braces to support the spine. Medications by themselves cannot correct kyphosis. They are advised to treat the underlying condition.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy and exercise is an important part of treating adult kyphosis. A well-designed exercise program can also provide pain relief in many patients. A physical therapist will develop an appropriate exercise routine for your case. It is essential that you stick to the plan.

Spinal Braces

The use of a spinal brace may provide some pain relief. However, in adults, it does not cause the spine to straighten.

Surgery

Surgery may be recommended in the following situations:

• Progressive /persistent Back Pain/ neck pain
• Progression of Curve
• Cosmetic appearance
• Sciatica
• Paraplegia
• Spinal stenosis

The main surgical procedure is deformity correction i.e. scoliosis correction, decompression, spinal instrumentation, and spinal fusion of the curve.
Patients and parents who are thinking about surgery may want to ask the following questions :

• What are the benefits from surgery?
• What are the risks from surgery?
• What techniques will be used for the surgery?
• What devices will be used to keep the spine stable after surgery?
• Where will the incisions be made?
• How straight will the spine be after surgery?
• How long will the hospital stay be?
• How long will it take to recover from surgery?
• Is there chronic back pain after surgery?
• Will the patient’s growth be limited?
• How flexible will the spine remain?
• Can the curve worsen or progress after surgery?
• Will additional surgery be likely?
• Will the patient be able to do all the things he or she wants to do following surgery?

Complications of spinal surgery may include bleeding, infection, pain, nerve damage or flat back. Rarely, the bone fails to heal and another surgery may be needed.

What is Kyphosis correction Surgery ?

There are various options of managing Kyphosis deformity depending on the magnitude and severity of kyphosis .The various options of managing Kyphosis are

1. In situ Spinal Fusion
2. Pontes Osteotomy / Smith Peterson Osteotomy
3. Pedicle subtraction osteotomy
4. Vertebral Column Resection Surgery