Senile kyphosis, which is also called senile is orthopedic spine deformity, which is common in people over the age of 60 – 70 years. Most often the disease is diagnosed in women and is manifested mainly by the curvature of the thoracic spine.
For the first time in a separate nosological form of the disease was isolated in 1950. Did this orthopedist by the name of Forestier, so sometimes in the medical literature, the name for this disease bears his name.
Senile kyphosis covers not only the breast but also cervical vertebrae. It occurs gradually and progresses slowly. Sometimes the pathology is diagnosed on the level of the lower thoracic vertebrae and upper lumbar even. The main reason for the weakness of muscle tissues and gravity.
The main changes are in that region of the intervertebral discs that were already affected by osteoporosis. They not only change their position, but are overloaded. This leads to their degeneration, the germination of the connective tissue and ossification. As a result of all these processes the human spine looks like one solid bone.
The clinical picture
The main symptom of senile kyphosis – a deformity of the spine, which over time becomes more and more pronounced. Patients also often complain of fatigue, difficulties in daily life that occur when climbing or descending stairs, Hiking, small physical loads.
In some cases may occur pain, most often in the lumbar region. They are blunt in nature and usually appear in the evening.
During the examination the doctor can detect the different degrees of severity of the curvature of the spine. This marked and atrophied back muscles, against which in the x-ray visible spinous processes of the vertebrae.
Often this curvature of the spine is fixed so that defies treatment and straighten the elderly person is almost impossible. Also completely impossible or is severely restricted movement of the spine from side to side and twists. Upper body tilted too far forward, which significantly reduces the height of a man.
Diagnosis
At the beginning of the disease on radiographs can be detected almost normal vertebrae. However, here there is a tapered space between them. Gradually it becomes less and less until it disappears altogether. This leads to the fact that the vertebrae begin to contact each other and quickly grow together, becoming one solid bone.
Unlike some other diseases, e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, vertebrae remain without any noticeable change.
Special attention should be paid to the state as presenile kyphosis. It develops only in women after the onset of menopause, which is the age 50 – 55 years. The main reason for this is hormonal disturbances, which is reflected not only in the presence of scoliosis, but the predisposition to such a dangerous disease like osteoarthritis.
There is one more important difference is symptoms. For example, presenile kyphosis is a disease that is reflected not only in the appearance of scoliosis, but in severe pain that makes women a long time to take pain medications.
Such a strong pain in the back is not observed in the case of senile scoliosis. Therefore, it can be considered the main diagnostic difference. And the reason these diseases are totally different.
Treatment
Treatment can give positive result only at the very beginning. If the patient goes to a doctor in advanced cases, there is nothing to do is almost impossible.
In the initial stages of treatment used corset, sleeping on a hard bed, massage, exercise, age-appropriate, moderate traction of the spine.
Prevention of disease is to every year undergo medical examinations by a podiatrist and surgeon, and at the slightest changes in the spine, to urgently start treatment.
As for presenile kyphosis, the treatment – receiving hormone replacement therapy, which should begin immediately after menopause. Prescribe the necessary drug can only be a gynecologist.
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