Kifoskoliosis of the thoracic spine: types and treatment

The spine, if properly formed, has minor natural bends. When seen from the side in the thoracic and sacral parts, it bends back, and in the cervical and lumbar regions - forward. Thanks to this structure, the spine is able to flex and absorb. However, there are cases when at birth or after a while the posture is bent, the vertebral bend deviates from the norm. And the changes can occur in several directions. This deformation is more severe and difficult to treat. Most often among such pathologies there is kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine.

What is kyphoscoliosis

Kyphoscoliosis is a pathological disease characterized by the curvature of the spine in two planes simultaneously: in anteroposterior and lateral, that is, 2 pathologies - kyphosis and scoliosis - are combined together.

The most susceptible to kyphoscoliosis are adolescents. According to statistics, this pathology is 4 times more common in young men than in girls. If the kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine is noted in an adult, this means that the curvature was not cured in childhood, and gradually, due to the development of scoliosis and kyphosis, the spine underwent deformation.

Causes

At the heart of the disease are the following reasons:

• Weakening of the back muscles. If the child's physical development is insufficient, the muscles are not able to adjust to the increased growth of the spine, which may entail a modification of the vertebrae itself with subsequent deformation of the spine.

• A sedentary lifestyle. Curved posture at the table along with the lack of physical activity provokes the beginning of the process of curvature of the spine.

• Problems of a socio-psychological nature. The stoop often develops against the backdrop of a reflex attempt by the body to protect itself from external factors. Often this problem is associated with high growth, emotional overload, constant influence of others.

• Great physical activity . Excess force loads on the pectoral muscles in the absence of a well developed musculoskeletal device can cause stoop in adolescents and make the chest cavity.

• Uneven loads on different parts of the body . Some sports exercises develop only one group of muscles, without affecting the others, which can lead to deformation of the spine in one direction or another.

In addition to the aforementioned, such factors as psychological stress, trauma and surgical intervention on the spine, diseases of the musculoskeletal system (cerebral palsy, polio, osteochondrosis, tumors) can provoke the kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine.

The causes of the disease can be associated with the inappropriate development of the child, and also be hereditary.

Classification

Depending on the causes that provoked the disease, the types of disease are distinguished.

Congenital kyphoscoliosis. It is associated with abnormal formation of individual vertebrae, as well as the formation of fused or extra ribs. Such a disease, as a rule, can be detected in a child at the age of 6 months and at the early stages of development it is not difficult to cure it.

Hereditary kyphoscoliosis. It differs in the same character of development in a number of generations and is inherited by a dominant type.

Acquired kyphoscoliosis. Appears due to incorrect posture, psychological stress, suffered trauma and surgical manipulations on the spine, certain diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Idiopathic kyphoscoliosis. This diagnosis is established in cases where the cause of the curvature of the spine can not be determined. Most often idiopathic form of scoliosis develops in adolescents at the stage of accelerated growth (11-15 years).

Than this disease is dangerous

The kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine, in the absence of treatment, can negatively affect the functioning of the internal organs, primarily the respiratory organs. When the mobility of the chest is disturbed, the lungs contract in volume, the load on the respiratory muscles becomes worse, there is insufficient gas exchange followed by a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood. As a result, pulmonary and even heart failure develops.

Pathological changes in the ridge cause constant congestion of its structures, as well as near-vertebral muscles. Therefore, often kyphoscoliosis leads to the appearance of osteochondrosis, the formation of intervertebral protrusions and hernias, which is the starting mechanism for the development of neurological diseases.

In addition, kyphoscoliosis can lead to damage to the genitourinary system.

Symptoms

The main signs of kyphoscoliosis are:

• Stoop in sitting and walking position;
• Stretching pain in the muscles of the neck and back;
• Pain in the back, especially after a long stay in one position;
• Dizziness, weakness and fatigue;
• Pain in the heart, arrhythmia;
• Shortness of breath with great physical exertion.

The last stages of development of the disease are characterized by deformation of the chest and pelvis. The patient is impaired coordination of movements, which can lead to loss of mobility.

Diagnostics

In case of suspicion of the curvature of the ridge, a visit should be made to the orthopedic traumatologist, in some cases, the neurologist may need help. To establish the diagnosis of kyphoscoliosis, in the first place the specialist performs an external examination: assesses the degree and nature of the curvature, checks the strength of the muscular apparatus, tendon reflexes and skin sensitivity.

If there is a suspicion of deformity, the x-ray of the spine is made in different projections. For more accurate diagnosis, you sometimes have to resort to such methods of examination as CT and MRI.

Stages of the disease

Kifoskoliosis of thoracic spine of 1 degree. It is accompanied by a slight lateral displacement and slight twisting. The angle of warpage in this case does not exceed 55 °.

Kifoskoliosis of the thoracic spine of the 2nd degree. In this case, the back has more developed lateral curvature and twisting.

Kifoskolioz 3 degrees. It is characterized by deformation changes in the chest and the formation of the costal hump.

Kyphoscoliosis of the 4th degree. There is a curvature not only of the ridge and chest, but also of the pelvic bones.

Based on the nature of the lateral shift of the spine, the left and right kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine is isolated.

Method of treatment

Depending on the stage of development of kyphoscoliosis resort to conservative and surgical therapy.

As a rule, the initial stages of curvature are not badly susceptible to conservative treatment. One of the main areas of prevention and conservative healing of kyphoscoliosis is a curative physical culture. LFK in the kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine consists in the use of a number of special exercises aimed at forming and strengthening the muscular corset, as well as relaxing and stretching certain muscle groups. All this is appointed individually by the attending physician.

Exercises for kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine should be performed under the supervision of the instructor of exercise therapy, because the effectiveness of the treatment depends on the correctness of their performance.

In addition to physical exercises, patients are prescribed corrective orthopedic corsets, physiotherapy, acupuncture, kinesitherapy, therapeutic massage, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs as conservative therapy.

The surgical method is used for extremely severe deformities (kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic spine of 3rd degree, and also 4). In this case, bone-plastic surgery is performed or resorted to surgical correction by endocorrectors. The latter option is most often used. Its essence lies in the fixation of the spine with the help of a metal construction, which is modeled under its physiological curves. After such an operation, patients need a long rehabilitation.

Preventive actions

In order to prevent and prevent the development of spinal pathology, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules:

• Sleep on a hard mattress. The best for the posture is a dream on your back, not on your side.

• When carrying a bag, do not load the same shoulder. In this case, it is better to prefer a backpack, so that the load is distributed evenly.

• Arrange the workplace so that it contributes to maintaining proper posture.

• With a tendency to kyphoscoliosis, it is contraindicated to lift weights, stand and jump on one leg.

Kifoskolioz - a very unpleasant disease, which causes significant pain and can be fraught with serious complications. That is why it is so important not to allow the emergence and development of this disease. If all the same symptoms made themselves felt, do not delay, seek help from a specialist need immediately.