Kyphosis is a curvature of the upper spine, due to which, in most cases, a hump forms. Kyphosis occurs in the thoracic region. Curvature is most often formed in the thoracic region, which negatively affects the posture of a person, one begins to slouch a lot and hunch over.

In most cases, thoracic kyphosis is diagnosed in boys during the period of active growth – in the age group of 11-15 years. The disease develops gradually, and a person who has developed kyphosis of the spine may not know about his disease for many years until the first visual changes appear with age.

Why does the thoracic spine curve?

Thoracic kyphosis, depending on the causes of the disease, can be congenital and acquired. Congenital kyphosis is pathology of the spine that occurs during foetal development. Most often, congenital type of kyphosis is caused by an incompletely formed lower part of the spinal column.

This pathology in the future can lead to very serious consequences – paralysis of the lower body. A similar phenomenon occurs when a person is injured or suffers a serious infectious disease. Thoracic spinal kyphosis of an acquired nature occurs for the following reasons:

• spinal cord injuries;
• complication after surgery;
• development of degenerative processes.

Kyphosis of the thoracic spine most often occurs due to injury, if treatment was not provided on time, and damaged bones or cartilage tissue are deformed as a result. As a result of trauma, curvature of the spine can occur in any of its parts – kyphosis of the cervical spine, lower back.

The curvature of the spinal column after surgery is associated with a violation of medical recommendations for recovery when a patient neglects the need to comply with bed rest. If kyphosis begins to develop after surgery, then surgery will be required to correct it. Lumbar kyphosis occurs most often due to the development of degenerative processes on the spinal column, which was not diagnosed and treated on time.

Clinical manifestations

Kyphosis of the lumbar, thoracic or cervical regions is manifested by back pain, which tends to intensify at the end of the day when a person was on his feet all day. The appearance of pain is caused by muscle spasms. Cervical kyphosis can lead to pinching of the nerve endings, which may cause the appearance of weakness and numbness in the limbs.

With kyphosis of the thoracic region, work of internal organs, in particular, the lungs, maybe disrupted, as a result, a person begins to have difficulty breathing. With kyphosis of the lumbar region, a disruption of the functioning of pelvic organs is observed. With the development of kyphosis, a hump begins to form in the front of the chest.

Treatment

Treatment of kyphosis in the early stages of development is carried out using conservative methods. For the relief of pain, medications are prescribed, in the presence of deviations in the functioning of internal organs, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. Without fail, a patient must wear a special corset, undergo physiotherapy, perform exercises to restore posture and prevent further deformation.

Surgery to correct the spinal column is carried out only in extreme cases when there is no positive dynamics from conservative treatment.