Scheuermanns Kyphosis

Description: Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
Discussion: - most common cause of structural kyphosis of thoracic & thoracolumbar spine; - most commonly seen in skeletally immature adolescents; - there is usually a strong hereditary tendency (may be autosomal dominant); - etiology is not known; - criteria for diagnosis: - thoracic kyphosis> 45 deg (25 to 40 deg being normal); - wedging> 5 deg of three adjacent vertebrae - thoracolumbar kyphosis> 30 deg (thoracolumbar spine is normally straight);