Scheuermann’s disease causes the upper spine to round off, leading to kyphosis. The causes are not well understood, but it may have a genetic component. Early diagnosis can benefit from bracing and physical therapy, but surgery may be needed in severe cases. Juvenile disc disorder is often confused with Scheuermann’s disease.
Scheuermann’s disease is a spinal disorder that causes the upper part of the spine to round off over time. This leads to postural defects which cannot be corrected by attempting to straighten up, as the patient’s spine is actually bent. The condition of having a bent spine is known as kyphosis, which is why Scheuermann’s disease is sometimes known as Scheuermann’s kyphosis. Kyphosis can be caused by a number of other factors, including other degenerative spinal disorders and spinal trauma. Scheuermann’s disease is also called calf disease or juvenile osteochondrosis of the spine.
The causes of Scheuermann’s disease are not well understood. Research suggests there may be a genetic component, although several suspicious genes initially identified as potential culprits have since been purged from the wrongdoings. The condition can also be related to trauma and mechanical problems, such as chronic poor posture that deforms the shape of the spine. This condition appears primarily among young boys, providing evidence to support theories that there is a strong genetic component, even if the disease is not entirely genetic.
In patients with Scheuermann disease, the bones in the upper spine grow more slowly in the front than they do in the back, creating a wedge shape. Over time, the series of wedges causes a distinctive curvature to appear in the spine. Some patients experience pain, especially at the apex of the curve, while others are relatively painless. Bending forces a change in posture that can make a patient uncomfortable as well as limit freedom of movement and potentially cause social problems.
If Scheuermann’s disease is diagnosed early, the patient may benefit from bracing and physical therapy. Sometimes, this is enough to gradually straighten the spine and allow it to develop normally, so the patient can enjoy a straight spine. This is done under the supervision of a doctor to avoid causing stress or strain that could damage the spine. In other cases, it’s possible that the kyphosis is progressing too far for these measures to work. In these cases, spine surgery will be needed to correct the kyphosis. Surgery is recommended as a last resort due to the risks of spinal surgery.
Another condition, juvenile disc disorder or lumbar Scheuermann syndrome, is sometimes confused with the original Scheuermann disease. In this condition, people experience a youthful onset of back pain in the lower or lumbar spine. This condition is very different and the treatment approaches are also different.
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