Scheuermann's Bone Disease

Scheuermann's disease was discovered in the 1920s by Danish radiologist Holger Werfe Scheuermann. The disease, a type of kyphosis, presents itself in most patients during their adolescent years and is characterized by the exaggerated rounding of the thoracic spine. The disease appears twice as often in boys as in girls, and the most common symptoms are slouching posture or hunchback, mild back pain, spinal stiffness or tenderness, and fatigue.

Facts

• Scheuermann's is a degenerative disease that presents very few problems in mild cases. Severe cases affect the lungs, nerves and other tissues. As much as 8 percent of the population is affected with this disease. Often Scheuermann's patients are seen as lazy and have a problem with their posture, but the apex of the curve located in the upper thoracic spine causes the individual to hunch or stoop forward as a result of the excessive kyphosis of the thoracic spine.

Causes

• The cause of the condition is unknown, but most scientists think it develops due to an interruption in bone growth during adolescence causing an abnormality in how the vertebra develop and grow. The condition causes the front of the spine to grow faster then the back of the spine. Scheuermann Kyphosis is a condition that can run in families. Those who have Scheuermann's disease may also be diagnosed with scoliosis.

Diagnosis

• Healthy vertebrae appear rectangular in shape and stack one on top of another, but in Scheuermann's patients the vertebrae appear wedge-shaped in x-rays. A physical examination helps to determine the location of the apex of the curve, the origin of the back pain, the flexibility of the curve and if there are other factors associated with the condition.

Medications

• Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen can help with pain and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Aleve and Advil can help with inflammation as well as pain. Talk with your doctor to discuss the best plan of action for your treatment. He can prescribe stronger medications, but medications can only temporarily mask the pain to give a few hours of comfort.

Treatment

• Doctors advise Scheuermann's patients to do back strengthening exercises to help slow down the progression of the disease. Treatment for Scheuermann's depends on several factors, which include: the age of the patient, severity of the curve, absence or presence of pain, and if there are any problems with the functioning of the lungs or their development. For more difficult patients, a doctor may recommend bracing or surgery to help with the size of the curve, any pulmonary issues, severe back pain and wedging of the vertebrae.