Definition
A hunchback (lat. : hyperkyphosis, gibbus) is a too strong curvature of the thoracic spine to the back. In colloquial language, this is also called a “hump”.
Naturally, there is always a backward convex curvature of the thoracic spine (physiological kyphosis). If the spinal column in the thoracic spine area is curved by more than 40°, this is called a hunchback (pathological kyphosis). A distinction is also made between a functional and a fixed form of hunchback. While the malposition in the functional form can still be corrected by compensatory movements, in the fixed form it is fixed in this position by changes to the bone.
Causes
A hunchback may be congenital (e.g. in the case of malformations of individual vertebral bodies). More often, however, a hunchback only develops in the course of life. This can be the cause: The various causes that can be considered for the development of a hunchback (kyphosis) can be roughly divided into two categories: a congenital hunchback or a hunchback acquired over the course of a lifetime.
In general, it must be remembered that the degree of curvature of the spine is not the same for every person, so that the respective, individual anatomical conditions from birth can dictate a certain degree of hunchback and hollow back. An excessive hunchback, which is visible from birth, is usually caused by malformations of the skeletal or spinal system. According to this, the presence of block vertebrae (vertebral bodies fused together) or hemivertebrae (only half-fused, wedge-shaped vertebral bodies), for example, can lead to the characteristic curvatures of the spine in the chest area.
In most cases, hunched backs acquired in the course of life are caused by muscular imbalances in the trunk area as a result of a general lack of movement, incorrect loading during training and permanent, unnatural posture positions in everyday life, both sitting and standing. Thus, a too strongly developed or shortened chest musculature combined with a too weakly developed shoulder and back musculature can lead to a (symptomatic) hunchback in the long run.
- Postural defects due to incorrect posture
- Degenerative changes of the spine (e.g.
osteoporosis)
- Injuries to the spinal column (e.g. fractured vertebrae)
- Tumors
- Inflammatory diseases of the spine, e.g. spondylidiscitis
But certain basic diseases of the skeletal system can also lead to deformations in the thoracic spine. In (mainly elderly) people suffering from osteoporosis, so-called sinter fractures in the individual vertebral bodies can occur in the course of the disease, which can lead to wedge-shaped deformations of the affected vertebrae, resulting in a hunchback.
But also chronic inflammatory, rheumatic diseases of the spinal column and joint system, such as ankylosing spondylitis or arthritis/polyarthritis, can lead to characteristic curvatures due to permanent remodeling processes in the spinal column. In addition, developmental disorders such as Scheuermann’s disease are also possible causes for the development of a hunchback, so that, for example, ossification disorders can lead to vertebral body deformations and spinal curvature. However, trauma to the thoracic spine (e.g. accidents) or tumors in the skeletal system (e.g. bone metastases, plasma cytoma) can also cause the development of a hunchback. However, there are still a small number of completely unknown causes, so that a so-called idiopathic hunchback may well be present without any physical cause being proven.
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