[Search-frames]

[Search-no frames]

[UCHC Home]

[©]

[Feed Back]

[About]

Kypho-scoliosis

Etiology: • Scoliosis can be caused by bad posture, muscle spasms, or psychogenic factors. • Rarely, metabolic disorders, such as Prader-Willi syndrome could result in scoliosis. • Most cases of scoliosis are idiopathic. • Idiopathic scoliosis appears to have a genetic predisposition.

Pathogenesis: • Pathogenesis: Extreme disorders in spine curves could result in problems in both respiratory and cardiovascular function.

Epidemiology: • Some degree of spinal deformity occurs in about 5% of children. • More common in females.

General Gross Description: • The spine is normally straight in the coronal plane. • In the sagital plane, there is normally is kyphosis in the thoracic area and lordosis in the cervical and lumbar areas. • Abnormal curvature, side-to-side, is referred to as scoliosis. • Abnormal curvature in the sagital plane is referred to kyphosis.

General Microscopic Description: • There is no specific histological alteration in kyphosis or scoliosis.

Clinical Correlations: • Some cases of idiopathic scoliosis are assocciated with other congenital malformations, particularly of the kidneys. • Extreme kyphosis in the thoracic area reduces the space available to viscera restricting both the lung capacity and venous return to the heart.

References: Principles and Practice of Pediatrics. F.A. Oski, Editor in Chief. II Edition. J.B.Lippincott. pp 1034.