2. • Structural kyphosis of thoracic or thoracolumbar spine
• Unknown etiology
• Incidence: 0.4-10% of adolescent ( 10- 14 years of age)
• Onset: during prepubertal growth spurt, apparent at around 10-12
years of age
• Sex: M>/=F
3. Definition
• Normal kyphosis of thoracic spine(scoliosis research society)
– 20-45 degree( T1- T12)
• Angulation >45 degree – hyperkyphosis
• Normal lumbar lordosis :- 50-70 degree ( L1-S1)
• Normal thoraco lumbar junction : 0-10 degree
• Sagittal gravity line passes through spinous process of T1, T 12 and
sacral promontory.
4. • Characterised by
vertebral wedging
thoracic kyphosis of >40 degree
>5 degree anterior wedging of 3 consecutive adjacent vertebral
bodied at apex of kyphosis
Schmorl’s nodes
Irregualr end plate
Narrowing of vertebral disc space
Increased vertebral AP diameter at apex
5.
6. History
• Initially known as “Apprentice or muscular kyphosis”
• Holger Werfel Scheuermann (1921) described as “ Kyphosis dorsalis
juvenilis”
7. Aetiopathogeneis ( theories)
• Scheuermann vertebral epiphyseal disturbance theory
• Schorml et al – vertebral wedging caused by herniation of disc
material into vertebral body
• Ferguson et al – anterior vascular groove in v. body- structural
weakness- wedging- kyphosis
• Bradford et al – secondary to vertebral osteoporosis during juvenile
period
• Ippolito and ponseti et al :- biomechanical abnormality of collegen
and matrix od v. body end plate cartilage
8. • Frank Damborg et al : genetic theory
• Mechanical factors:
supported by bracing therapy as treatment, commonly seen in heavy
weight lifting or manual labour
9. Anatomic and histological changes
• Gross:
* thickened ALL
* narrowed vertebral disks
* wedging of vertebral bodies
10. • Histology
* abnormality of cartilaginous endplate include disorganized
endochondral ossification
• Collagen
* proteoglycan ratio in endplate matrix is low
* results in alteration in ossification of endplate causing altered
vertical growth
12. Typical scheurmann disease
• Most common
• Usually involve thoracic spine
• Involve >/= 3 consecutive vertebrae each wedged >/= 5 degree
• Producing structural kyphosis
13. Atypical scheuermann disease
• Usually located in the thoracolumbar junction or lumbar spine
• Vertebral end plate changes, disc space narrowing, anterior schmorl
nodes
• Doesnot necessarily have 3 consecutively wedged vertebrae of 5
degree
14. Clinical features
• PAIN
• DEFORMITY and its progression
• NEUROLOGIC COMPROMISE
• CARDIOPULMONARY COMPROMISE
• COSMETIC and POSTURAL PROBLEM
15. Pain
• MC complaints in adult
• Located just distal to the apex of the deformity in the paraspinal
location
• Commonly activity related pain
• Relieved immediately with rest and usually are not activity limiting
• Hyperlordosis distal to thoracic deformity and degenerative disc and
facet arthropathy predispose low back apin.
16. • Adolescent present with progressive low back pain and may interfere
with activities of daily living, pain radiating to buttocks and lower
extremities, and may awaken from sleep
18. Neurologic compromise
• Cord compression secondary to scheuermann disease is rare, may
need sx.
• Variable onset
• Ranging from acute onset of unilateral radiculopathy to insidious
onset of spastic paraplegia
• Cause is that spinal cord is draped over apex of deformity
• Can also due to extradural cysts, acute thoracic disk herniations( 4-
7%)
19. Cardiopulmonary complaints
• Extremely rare on initial presentation
• Restrictive pulmonary disease in kyphosis > 100 degree, with apex in
upper thoracic region
20. Physical examination
• Erect patient demonstrate increased thoracic kyphosis with sloping
shoulders
• Forward posturing of head and neck ( due to increased cervical
lordosis)
• increased lumbar lordosis with weakened abdominal muscles causing
mildly protuberant abdomen
• Adam’s forward bend test :-slight truncal asymmetry associated with
mild scoliosis,, side view gives “ A” frame deformity due to abrupt
angulation
21. • Deformity is not easily corrected with postural changes or passive
manipulation
• Lumbar lordosis is usually reversible, flexible and corrects with
forward bending. But cervical lordosis may become fixed.
• Neurological exam may normal
• Tight or contracted hamstring and pectoral muscles
• Arms and legs appear relatively long compared to trunk
23. 1. Standing PA view
• May show mild scoliosis that rarely > 25 degree and show minimal
vertebral rotation
• Allows assessment of skeletal maturity (RISSER SIGN- BY DEGREE OF
OSSIFICATION OF ILIAC APOPHYSIS)
24. 2. Lateral 36 inch (90cm) spine erect
• with hips and knee extended, arms resting at shoulder height on a
crossbar infront.
• Reveals thoracic kyphosis over 40 degree ( Cobb technique)
• To r/o associated conditions
• Radiographic criteria by Sorenson
1) >5o of anterior wedging of 3 consecutive vertebral bodies at apex
2) irregular vertebral apophyseal lines with flattening and wedging
3) narrowing of intervertebral spaces and variable presence of
schmorl’s nodes
26. Lumbar scheuermann’s disease
• Lateral view show decreased lumbar lordosis and possible kyphotic
deformity at thoraco lumbar junction
• Lumbar vertebrae is scalloped with lucent defects at anterosuperior
corners
• Schmorl nodes and endplate irregularity
27. MRI
• For atypical or rapidly progressive kyphosis or any neurological signs
or symptoms
• Mainly for preoperative evaluation
28. Natural history
• Untreated kyphosis may progress if deformity is severe
• Adults with mild residual kyphosis will have little, if any are not likely
to seek treatment
• Pain in adults due to degenerative spondylosis often sequel of
untreated scheuermann disease, usually resistant to non operative
treatment and not usually seen kyphosis<60o
• Pulmonary compromise if curve >100o
• Type II scheuermann almost never require sx
30. Thoracic type
• Pure thoracic:- apex at mid thoracic spine
• When kyphosis <750 , chance of progression is less without significant
pain
• When >800 continues to progress with increased pain
• Common in adolescent as well as adult
• Thoracolumbar pattern with its apex at thoracolumbar Jn has high
propensity to progress and can be significantly painful.
34. Non operative treatment
Indications
• Relative skeletal immaturity ( </= rise grade II) and a progressive
deformity that cosmetically or functionally unacceptable ( usually
>600)
Goals
• To control the deformity
• To reconstitute the anterior vertebral height by applying hyper
extension forces
36. • Apical vertebra at or above T7 : Milwaukee brace
• Apical vertebra below T7 : thorocolumbar sacral orthosis (TLSO),
usually supplemented with anterior sternal or infraclavicular
outtriggers
• With a decrease in lumbar lordosis, patient encouraged to actively
hyperextend the spine to maintain the head in a more upright
position
• Initially bracing is recommended for 18 hours a day, radiographs every
6 months.
• Brace treatment continue until skeletal maturity.
38. Cast treatment
• When passive correction on lateral bolster radiograph is <40%, brace
TX is not likely to be effective
• Need total compliance and desire of the adolescent to achieve
correction
• Risser casts applied in a serial fashion to produce more correction
• Following 6-9 month period of casting , then treated with Milwaukee
brace or other brace to maintain the correction upto skeletal maturity
39. Surgical management
Indications
• Kyphosis: >80o in T spine, >650 in T-L spine
• Symptomatic ( pain, neurologic deficit, cosmetic) of T spine > 750 or T-
L spine >600 not controlled by non operative methods
• Significant sagittal imbalance
40. Determining level of fusion
• From standing lateral radiograph
• Upper limit must include most proximal vertebra that is tilted into the
kyphosis, generally upto T2
• Caudal should include first lordotic disk space, commonly includes
one level distal to thee measured end vertebra of kyphosis
42. Anterior release and fusion
• Indication : when kyphosis is rigid on hyperextension films
• Level of anterior release:include the rigid apical based on
hyperextension films
• Technique: right sided thoracotomy / thoracoscopic
• Procedure: disc spaces exposed and curetted preserving the bony
endplate, bone graft placed at each disc space
44. posterior instrumentation alone
• skeletally immature ( risser grade III) and has some anterior growth
potential remaining and if the kyphosis is corrected to <500 on
hyperextension lateral film
• chances of loss of correction is high
45. Principle of posterior instrumentation
• Correcting maneuver used is cantilevering the rod on to spine and
segmental compression from apex to ends
• Include minimum of 8 anchors above and below the apex
• 3-5 pairs of pedicle hook- transverse process claws cephalad and
similar number of pedicle screws caudal to apex
46. Surgical technique
• LUQUE instrumentation: degmental sublaminar wiring
• Multisegmnet hook rod system
• Pedicle screw system
• Harrington rod system
• amount of correction achieved increased by osteotomizing the
facets, excising the ligamnetum flavum( PONTE OSTEOTOMY)