Scheuermann's Kyphosis

Welcome to Vrije Universiteit Brussel's Evidence-based Practice project. This space was created by and for the students in the Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy program of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!

Original Editors - Liza De Dobbeleer

Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page.  Read more.

Search Strategy

add text here related to databases searched, keywords, and search timeline

Definition/Description

Scheuermann’s disease, also known as juvenile osteochondrosis, is named after Holger Werfel Scheuermann. The disease is characterized by a defect in shape of the spine with a curvature of the spine as result.^[1] People who suffer with this disease have irregularities of the vertebral endplates, the presence of Schmorl's nodes, disk-space narrowing and vertebral wedging.^[2] At each level of the lumbar vertebrae can prevent this abnormality, hence the name lumbar Scheuermann’s disease. The disease mostly develops during puberty and is seen equally in both sexes. Depending on which criteria is used, has 5 to 40% of the population this anomaly.^{[1] [3]}
The skeleton of a newborn consists mainly of cartilage, which in childhood is almost completely transformed into bone.^[3] The lumbar Scheuermann’s disease is related to defects in the ossification process. This is often located at the anterior of the lumbar vertebrae (usually the first lumbar vertebrae to the fourth). This is the reason why these patients exhibit an increased lordosis.
The disease can range from mild to a server life-threatening deformity. Some people have no problems (mild threatening) but others will experience problems such as increasing curved spine, pain, neurological problems and symptoms of heart or lung problems. Although there’s no real condition discovered, deserve some typically elements of the disease special attention of researchers. Some studies showed that there’s a genetic component, Ascani et al also proved that patients with the condition are often taller than others of similar age. Mostly, the patients have a greater lordosis in the lumbar spine than normal people.^{[4] [5]}
In addition, it has been suggested that between 20 to 30% of patients with Scheuermann’s disease also have scoliosis. In more serious cases, the combination is sometimes known as kyphoscoliosis.

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

add text here

Epidemiology /Etiology

add text here

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

add text here

Differential Diagnosis

add text here

Diagnostic Procedures

add text here related to medical diagnostic procedures

Outcome Measures

add links to outcome measures here (also see Outcome Measures Database)

Examination

add text here related to physical examination and assessment

Medical Management

add text here

Physical Therapy Management

add text here

Key Research

add links and reviews of high quality evidence here (case studies should be added on new pages using the case study template)

Resources

add appropriate resources here

Clinical Bottom Line

add text here

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

see tutorial on Adding PubMed Feed

References

see adding references tutorial.