Back Surgery for Scheuermann's Disease

Juvenile kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann's disease, causes abnormal curvature of the spine. Scheuermann's disease is most prominent in males between the ages of 13 and 16. Back surgery is one treatment option for juvenile kyphosis.

Scheuermann's Disease

• Juvenile kyphosis is not usually a fatal condition. The most significant symptom of Scheuermann's disease is back pain.

The Procedure

• Spinal fusion is the back surgery performed for treating Scheuermann's disease. During the operation the doctor will insert a metal rod into the back in order to straighten the spine.

Surgical Factors

• Doctors tend to look at age, degree of spinal abnormality, and amount of back pain when deciding if back surgery would be appropriate for treatment. In rare cases, where the spine's degree of curvature is more than 75 degrees, spinal fusion needs to be done to prevent the spine's curvature from crushing the body's internal organs.

Considerations

• Aside from the rare cases when spinal fusion needs to be done, amount of back pain and appearance are the leading reasons to undergo back surgery. A person with juvenile kyphosis is likely to display more self-confidence after surgery.

Long Term Effects

• The metal rod inserted into the back during spinal fusion does create some physical limitations. For example, a person with a metal rod in his back is unable to do sit ups. If you fly you will have to take into consideration the fact you have a metal implant in your back while passing through airport security. Plan ahead and have a doctor's note documenting your metal implant to show airport security personnel.

Other Treatments

• Over the counter pain medication works well to combat minimal to moderate levels of back pain caused by Scheuermann's disease. Not carrying heavy loads on your back, such as a backpack filled with textbooks, is a way to keep back pain to a minimum.