Kyphosis, Hunchback, and Scoliosis—Spinal Deformities

Everyone has a slight natural backward curvature of the thoracic spine.

Kyphosis of the lumbar spine occurs when the spine in the lumbar region is excessively curved. Excessive kyphosis is clearly visible to the naked eye in people standing upright.

Depending on the underlying cause, those affected may suffer from:

• chronic pain in the back and/or neck, which, due to the kyphosis, may radiate into the cervical spine (neck)
• damaged vertebral bodies
• impaired spinal cord
• nerve damage
• difficulty breathing
• Bleeding
• Heart disease
• Sleep disorders
• Numbness
• Leg paralysis
• Limited mobility
• Depression caused by a deformed spine

Kyphosis often occurs alongside scoliosis. In medical terms, scoliosis refers to a spine that is curved to the side and is often additionally twisted and stiffened.

Since the rounded back is clearly visible, it is easily diagnosed by orthopedic specialists. They then perform an X-ray examination.

If you also have a spine that is excessively curved at the thoracic level, you should see an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible.

The hump is caused by vertebral fractures. In older women, these are usually the result of osteoporosis (porous bones due to calcium deficiency). In addition, degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (joint inflammation) can cause thoracic kyphosis (curvature of the thoracic spine).

Another cause is Scheuermann’s disease, which is common in adolescence: In those affected, the thoracic vertebrae grow unevenly at the front and back. The condition is also often associated with herniated discs.

Other causes of kyphosis:

• injuries to the upper back resulting from accidents
• spinal tumors (bone metastases),
• inflammations such as spondylodiscitis,

In some people, kyphosis is congenital. These babies are born with deformed or fused vertebrae.

In most cases, however, a hunchback develops as a result of poor posture. Insufficient physical activity causes the muscles in this area of the body to atrophy. As a result, they can no longer provide adequate support for the spine.

In milder cases, regular monitoring is sufficient. Patients perform exercises to strengthen their back muscles and practice proper posture.

Regular exercise (walking, jogging) also helps correct the poor posture.

However, if the patient suffers from

• difficulty breathing,
• digestive problems,
• cardiovascular problems,
• severe pain, or
• neurological disorders,

surgery is necessary: Spondylodesis restores the natural curvature of the spine by fusing the vertebrae. To do this, the affected vertebrae are fixed in place with screws (implants).

Kyphoplasty is used for patients with vertebral fractures. It realigns the unstable spine in the thoracic region using bone cement. This alleviates the patients’ pain.

Thoracic kyphosis can also be effectively corrected with an orthosis (brace). The orthopedic surgeon has it custom-fitted according to the severity of the misalignment. Today, braces are designed using modern computer software and can also help with lordosis issues.

Milder cases of hyperkyphosis can be effectively corrected with regular physical therapy. The exercises strengthen the back and chest muscles, thereby restoring the spine’s natural curvature.

This is especially true for patients with

• Scheuermann’s disease,
• scoliosis, and
• lordosis-kyphosis

can be treated effectively in this way.

Physical therapy includes

• techniques for straightening the spine,
• exercises for daily life, and
• techniques that help the patient increase their breathing capacity.

The breathing techniques, developed specifically for patients with scoliosis and hyperkyphosis, further relax and relieve the overworked back muscles.