What is Kyphoscoliosis?

Kyphoscoliosis

Everyone has a spinal cord on the back of their body. The spinal cord is very important for the proper functioning of one’s body. It consists of several very sensitive nerves from which other nerves may branch out and reach intricate body parts. These nerves allow us to do many critical bodily functions without which we would rely on others. Any problem relating to the spinal cord will usually have detrimental effects on a person and their quality of life. Any issue relating to a person’s spinal cord must be addressed as sensitively as possible. Kyphoscoliosis is an irregular curving of the spine of a person. It involves unusual curving in the sagittal and coronal planes, which may also be accompanied by a rotation of the spinal axis in a person’s body. Scoliosis in adults may be defined as some lateral deviation that is over 10 degrees in the coronal plane. This is as measured by the Cobb angle. Let’s proceed further with understanding Kyphoscoliosis symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and more additional information.

Kyphoscoliosis symptoms 

One may want to know about Kyphoscoliosis symptoms they may face. A person with a particular health issue may have some symptoms. These symptoms are significant as they may reveal that the person is suffering from a specific health issue. It may also indicate the severity and treatment that may be necessary to improve that person’s health condition. Kyphoscoliosis symptoms may also be significant in the same way. People may have rounded shoulders or a hump in their upper back region. They may experience tight hamstrings, which affect the muscles in the back of their thigh.

Some other notable Kyphoscoliosis symptoms are:

  • A back that is hunched 
  • Uneven shoulder blades 
  • Arms or legs that have an uneven length 
  • Difficulty walking regularly  
  • Body aches, especially the back region of the person
  • Feeling stiff in one’s body for no apparent reason 
  • Feeling fatigued

While the above lists may help identify some general Kyphoscoliosis symptoms, people may experience these differently sometimes and with varying severity. If you would like to understand more about Kyphoscoliosis symptoms and how they may affect you based on the state and outlook of your health, you may consult your doctor about the same. 

Kyphoscoliosis causes 

There are a multitude of Kyphoscoliosis causes. A person may face a health problem that may reduce their quality of life and detrimentally affect them. While no patient would like to cause themselves to suffer, health-related issues usually arise due to some reason. Kyphoscoliosis’s causes are essential to understand, especially for those being treated for it. This will make them more aware of the impediment they are suffering from and how it was caused. By understanding the cause of such a problem, a person may also be able to understand how they may avoid it or take as many steps as they can to ensure that they may not suffer from it again. 

  • Kyphoscoliosis may affect a person at any age. A handful of reasons could cause it. Many cases of Kyphoscoliosis are found to be idiopathic, which means that the exact cause of that particular condition may not have a known reason.
  • There are some situations wherein a person may suffer from postural Kyphoscoliosis as a result of their bad posture and being bent over all the time. This may generally be eased to a great extent by employing physical therapy. The amount of physical therapy that a person may need to go through is dependent on the degree of the curvature of their body and back and how extreme it actually is 
  • Infections such as tuberculosis and osteochondrodysplasia may be Kyphoscoliosis causes. This is because these diseases may weaken the spine of the person. In older patients that are aged over 50, Kyphoscoliosis may develop as a result of degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis are already present.

Kyphoscoliosis diagnosis 

Kyphoscoliosis may often be observed during the schooling age. One may notice Kyphoscoliosis symptoms such as rounding of the spine. In order to affirm that one is suffering from Kyphoscoliosis and be given suitable Kyphoscoliosis treatment, it may be a good idea to visit a doctor or appropriate medical professional that will reveal the same to you. 

The doctor or medical professional you approach may conduct a physical exam to observe the child’s spine. Medical professionals often use the ‘Adam’s forward bend test’. In this test, a person may be asked to bend forward while having their feet together, keeping their knees straight and arms hanging freely. The Adam’s forward bend test may assist the doctor or medical professional in seeing any curve in a person’s spine or any other issues related to their spine. Issues related to the person’s spine may also include scoliosis, which is a sideways curving of a person’s spinal cord.

An X-ray may be used to measure the curvature of the spine. The natural curve of a person is between 20 and 45 degrees. A person may be diagnosed with Kyphoscoliosis if the curvature of their spine is more than 50 degrees.

Other tests related to Kyphoscoliosis 

A doctor or suitable medical professional you may visit to consult about Kyphoscoliosis might also check the person for other conditions that are related to Kyphoscoliosis. In elderly people and some adults, Parkinson’s disease may contribute to Kyphoscoliosis and add to Kyphoscoliosis causes. If a person has Parkinson’s disease, they may also be at risk of Kyphoscoliosis.

If you have a severe curve, the doctor or medical professional may want to perform a pulmonary function test. This test will help them to measure how well your lungs are working as they may be affected by severe curvature. A severe curve could also compress your spinal cord. You may experience spinal cord compressions, such as numbness, tingling, bladder or bowel incontinence, and poor balance. Your doctor may recommend that the patient get an MRI done. The MRI will help them look more closely at a person’s spine and spine and understand their situation better. This may also assist in deciding what course of treatment may be taken for the patient. 

Kyphoscoliosis treatment 

Every medical condition has some treatment. While the type and course of treatment will be decided by the doctor or the patient’s medical team, they may benefit significantly by trying to understand the kind of treatment they are being afforded. This will help them understand their health condition better. It will also help them understand how this treatment is being used to treat and improve their issue. Kyphoscoliosis treatment may depend on the health situation of the patient. The suitable treatment for them is recommended by or decided by their doctor. 

Non-surgical methods for Kyphoscoliosis treatment may include:

Observation: In mild cases of Kyphoscoliosis, doctors will observe patients over a period of time. They may monitor and evaluate the health state of a patient with regular imaging scans as well as functional evaluation.

Medications: Medications may be prescribed to a patient. Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants may be used to manage pain along with regular monitoring of side effects that may be associated with the patient’s health condition. 

Physical therapy: Some Kyphoscoliosis causes that may cause them to suffer from it, like bad posture and bending over, may be corrected using bracing, spinal cord stimulation, stretching and strengthening exercises; yoga may assist in supporting weakened muscles, improving curvature and reducing the pain experienced by the person. This may usually be done when the Kyphoscoliosis of the person is not too severe. 

Management of respiratory symptoms: A person may have Non-Invasive Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV). People suffering from severe Kyphoscoliosis presenting with chronic respiratory failure undergo this. A person may also be given chest physiotherapy and medications, which may be used for managing respiratory problems caused by Kyphoscoliosis.

A person may undergo surgery to treat Kyphoscoliosis when they do not respond in a suitable manner to treatment methods that do not involve surgical procedures. Different surgical methods like fusion surgeries, non-fusion surgeries, osteotomies or placement of rods or screws based on different person characteristics such as age, risk profile, bone health etc., may be done on the patient with Kyphoscoliosis. 

How common is Kyphoscoliosis?

The incidence of a health impediment may be necessary to a patient that is suffering from it or their guardian as it could reveal how easily patients with similar health issues, treatments for the health issue, etc., may be found. Kyphoscoliosis is quite a rare health issue. It usually affects a small portion of the population. Kyphoscoliosis diagnosis may generally be made for younger people. A usual cause of juvenile Kyphoscoliosis is Scheuermann’s disease. This disease has an incidence of 0.4% to 8% in the USA. This may occur more in boys and typically affects male children who fall between the ages of 13 and 16 years.

What will my treatment for it depend on?

Treatment for Kyphoscoliosis will be based on your:

  • Age
  • Medical history
  • The severity of the curve

The goal of treatment is to stop the curve from getting worse after the Kyphoscoliosis diagnosis has been made. In very serious cases, a person may need to have surgery. However, most people that have Kyphoscoliosis will not need surgery. There may be non-surgical treatments that can treat and improve the patient’s medical condition as well, so surgery may only happen if the doctor or medical professional feels it is necessary.

There are complications associated with every surgery. It is imperative to know and understand these risks and complications that one may face. This is still important even when there is a low chance that they will be experienced. This will help a patient in case they do, and even if they do not, the patient or their guardian will be readily informed that this could occur. They may be able to address the situation in a suitable manner if the risks or complications do actually occur. 

Complications of surgeries can include:

  • Infection in the region of surgery 
  • Damage to nerves in the body of the person 
  • Loss of ability to heal or delayed healing 
  • Excessive bleeding in the region of surgery 
  • Becoming paralyzed in a particular part of the body or sometimes even the whole body 

Every kind of treatment has some risks, even though the primary goal of treatments is to positively impact the patients and help them overcome the health issue they are facing. In order to understand more about surgeries, ask your doctor about the same. Depending on the severity and symptoms of Kyphoscoliosis, a person may be recommended to take the necessary steps, which may include surgery.

Why is Kyphoscoliosis surgery necessary in some situations?

When a Kyphoscoliosis diagnosis is made, the severity of the condition could vary from patient to patient and will not be identical. Some patients may get a mild Kyphoscoliosis diagnosis, while others may get a more severe Kyphoscoliosis diagnosis. Surgery can assist a person that is suffering from severely debilitating and sometimes even life-threatening consequences of Kyphoscoliosis. A surgical procedure may reduce the curvature of a person’s body to relieve them of symptoms they may be suffering due to different Kyphoscoliosis causes. 

Outlook for patients with Kyphoscoliosis 

You must visit a doctor or suitable medical professional if you notice symptoms of Kyphoscoliosis. To ensure a quick recovery, one must try and detect the health condition they are facing as early on as one can and be aware of different Kyphoscoliosis causes that could affect them. The treatment must also be done in a timely manner. These aspects are essential for successful treatment and a speedy recovery.

Living with any form of scoliosis or spinal issue is difficult. A person may have to rely on others, especially during treatment, to get ordinary things done. They may experience a fall in their quality of life. A lot of people with Kyphoscoliosis or some scoliosis end up joining support groups, which can be helpful. These support groups boost the patients’ morale while also keeping them informed about their health issues. 

Can a person give birth while suffering from this condition?

Kyphoscoliosis is caused due to a deformity in the spine of a person. The person with Kyphoscoliosis deals with posterior convex angulations greater than 40 degrees of a vertebral column segment, combined with lateral and rotational deformities. A person who may be pregnant while having Kyphoscoliosis may be a significant risk to both the pregnant person as well as the child. A considerable number of people who have spinal cord injuries involved, like in this case, will probably have some complications during pregnancy, which is why it’s recommended that a person does not get pregnant when they have Kyphoscoliosis.

What age group suffers from Kyphoscoliosis?

A person may want to know what age group are affected by a particular health impediment. This will help them be better informed about the health condition they are suffering from and even look out for others who could be suffering from it. Despite being more common among children and those in their earlier stages of life, a person may suffer from Kyphoscoliosis at any age. In a few instances, Kyphoscoliosis may be present at birth due to congenital issues or developmental issues that are caused in the womb. A person may need a different kind of Kyphoscoliosis treatment depending on their personal characteristics such as age, height, weight, etc. Therefore, the person’s age is very important when suffering from and receiving Kyphoscoliosis treatment.

Ventilation for patients of Kyphoscoliosis 

Patients suffering from Kyphoscoliosis and chronic respiratory insufficiency may be afforded Kyphoscoliosis treatment using home oxygen therapy or ventilation. Ventilation is the treatment that may be used to help patients that possess ventilatory mechanics that are not working as they should. As a result, ventilation is a common and preferred choice of treatment for such patients. Still, however, there have yet to be randomized controlled trials (CRT) that have been able to prove it.

Physiotherapy for patients of Kyphoscoliosis

A patient may be told to do regular physiotherapy in order to deal with the symptoms of Kyphoscoliosis that they may experience as a Kyphoscoliosis treatment. Physiotherapy can assist people with mild to moderate Kyphoscoliosis, which is not too severe in nature. Physical therapy is important to strengthen the spinal tissues of the person. This will help correct the curvature as much as possible, which will bring the patient a lot of relief. Ask your doctor if you have Kyphoscoliosis and think you can benefit from this. In some severe cases, a doctor or medical professional may provide some other alternative Kyphoscoliosis treatment to physiotherapy. 

Patients with infectious diseases 

Patients with some infectious diseases may be more prone to getting Kyphoscoliosis due to them. Some infections, like tuberculosis and osteochondrodysplasia, could lead to Kyphoscoliosis. This is because these infections weaken the person’s spine, making them increasingly prone to Kyphoscoliosis. 

Patients and degenerative diseases 

Patients may be suffering from some kind of degenerative disease which could lead to Kyphoscoliosis. Patients that are 50+ could suffer from Kyphoscoliosis as a result of Osteoporosis or Osteoarthritis, which may be already present and detrimentally impacting a person’s body. These diseases are degenerative and may lead to problems related to the patient and their spine. 

Bracing

There are different kinds of supports one could make use of. In several cases of mild to moderate cases of scoliosis, hyperkyphosis, and Kyphoscoliosis, a back brace may be used in order to stop the spine of the person from bending over and curing even more. A brace supports the muscles and bones of the person. A brace fixes a person’s posture, ensuring that the curve is reduced as much as it can be.

While back braces may be available in the market, the back braces for Kyphoscoliosis are still unavailable to regular people. The back braces needed for Kyphoscoliosis are still in development as they need to stunt the curvature in both the coronal and sagittal plane and have a very specific design that can meet the needs of the patients with Kyphoscoliosis.

Does Kyphoscoliosis always have severe consequences for patients?

One may wonder if Kyphoscoliosis always has severe effects on patients that suffer from it. While there are a lot of people who may feel severe effects of Kyphoscoliosis, it certainly does not always severely impact the person it affects. There are a lot of patients who feel very mild effects and are not severely burdened by it. Most times, Kyphoscoliosis does not cause any kinds of health problems for the person or require any medical treatment to relieve the patient of the condition. Many Kyphoscoliosis patients can live a relatively normal life with very few symptoms of the health condition. Its severe form though could cause the person a lot of issues. 

While Kyphoscoliosis may not always be severe in its effects, Kyphoscoliosis could cause certainly cause changes in the appearance of a person. A lot of people who suffer from Kyphoscoliosis experience adverse negative changes in the way that they look. This may cause them to feel self-conscious depending on how severe the physical abnormalities may be. In extreme cases, Kyphoscoliosis may result in some pain or even breathing issues caused by the curving of the person’s body. Severe Kyphoscoliosis may generally require surgery to correct. To know more about the harsh consequences of Kyphoscoliosis and how it may affect you personally when receiving Kyphoscoliosis treatment, you may consult your doctor or a suitable medical professional about the same. 

Conclusion 

Understanding the health condition you are facing is very important. By understanding the health condition they are facing, patients can better understand the treatment, medication, and medical advice they are receiving from a doctor or a suitable medical professional. Doctors are also able to afford necessary treatment for their patients, which are often unwilling or uncomfortable, especially when they do not understand what is going on while receiving treatment. While Kyphoscoliosis may have some adverse effects on the patients, the condition may be significantly improved with proper treatment and care. This will allow a patient to feel independent and healthy and live a less burdened life with the effects of or free of Kyphoscoliosis.

Treatment for a problem like Kyphoscoliosis can be quite expensive. Personal funds might not be enough to cover these costs. In such cases, fundraising on a platform like Impact Guru can help you cover your treatment costs, without any commitment.