Kyphosis: Causes and Treatment Options

Kyphosis is a curve of the spine that results in a rounded back for the individual suffering from it. Aside from a humpback appearance, kyphosis can also cause fatigue, back pain, rigidity of the spine, and labored breathing.

Causes

Kyphosis can afflict anyone at any age. It may develop from a number of factors, including both injury and disease. Kyphosis can stem from a deterioration of either the spinal cord due to arthritis or vertebrae as a result of osteoporosis. In some cases, the vertebrae may begin to slip forward on each other, a condition is known as spondylolisthesis.

Physical trauma to the thoracic or lumbar areas can also cause kyphosis. Aside from these common causes, kyphosis may be triggered by any of the following: spina bifida, Paget’s disease, neurofibromatosis, muscular dystrophy, and tuberculosis.

Treatment Options

The type of care needed to correct kyphosis depends upon both its cause and severity. In mild cases, the condition can be addressed with a back brace, medication, or physical therapy. If the back pain and other symptoms persist or worsen, surgery may be required.

Kyphosis can be treated with several different surgical procedures, one of which is an osteotomy. The purpose of an osteotomy is to eliminate the deformity of the bones. The vertebrae are realigned and stabilized with the aid of spinal instrumentation or fusion. Instrumentation may come in the form of plates, wires, rods, cables, or screws.

Another, less invasive measure called balloon kyphoplasty may also be possible. Kyphoplasty is used to correct spinal fractures, which can cause kyphosis. The surgeon inserts a small balloon between the fractured vertebrae and inflates it. This creates a space in the vertebral column that can be filled with surgical cement to support the bones and keep them from fracturing again.

If you are experiencing back or neck pain, the physicians at the Spine Institute of Nevada can correct it. We serve individuals in Las Vegas and the surrounding communities and provide a variety of treatment options relating to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar areas of the back. Call us today at 702-239-3787 to learn more about our spinal procedures or to schedule an appointment.