Abnormal Curvatures of the Spinal Column

Question 1

Does “osis” infer a normal or an abnormal condition?

Answer 1

Neither, it is non-judgmental

Question 2

What names are given to conditions associated with abnormal curves of the vertebral column?

Answer 2

• lordosis
• kyphosis
• scoliosis

Question 3

What is the definition of lordosis?

Answer 3

A forward bending condition

Question 4

What is the definition of kyphosis?

Answer 4

A humpback or hunchback condition

Question 5

What is the definition of scoliosis?

Answer 5

A warped or crooked condition

Question 6

What is the direction of the curve deviation in lordosis?

Answer 6

To the anterior

Question 7

What is the direction of the curve deviation in kyphosis?

Answer 7

To the posterior

Question 8

What is the direction of the curve deviation in scoliosis?

Answer 8

To the side (it is a lateral deviation)

Question 9

Is there a locational bias for the classic definition of lordosis?

Answer 9

No, there would be:

• an increase in the anterior direction in the cervical spine
• a decrease in the posterior direction in the thoracic spine
• an increase in the anterior direction in the lumbar spine
• a decrease in the posterior direction in the pelvic or sacrococcygeal region

Question 10

Is there a locational bias for the classic definition of kyphosis?

Answer 10

No, there would be:

• a decrease in the anterior direction in the cervical spine
• an increase in the posterior direction in the thoracic spine
• a decrease in the anterior direction in the lumbar spine
• an increase in the posterior direction in the pelvic or sacrococcygeal region

Question 11

What clinical examples of abnormal curvatures along the vertebral column were stressed in class?

Answer 11

• military neck
• humpback or hunchback
• swayback

Question 12

What is military neck?

Answer 12

• A decreased anterior curve in the cervical region, a straight neck
• example of kyphosis

Question 13

What is humpback or hunchback?

Answer 13

• An increased posterior curve in the thoracic region

- example of kyphosis

Question 14

What is swayback?

Answer 14

• An increased anterior curve in the lumbar region

- example of lordosis

Question 15

What does the use of the term lordotic try to imply?

Answer 15

A normal cervical and normal lumbar anterior curve

Question 16

What does the use of the term kyphotic try to imply?

Answer 16

A normal thoracic/dorsal and normal pelvic/sacrococcygeal posterior curve

Question 17

What prefixes are used to convey abnormality in curve patterns

Answer 17

hyper and hypo

Question 18

What does the term hyperlordotic infer?

Answer 18

an increase in the anterior curve of the cervical or lumbar region

Question 19

What does the term hypolordotic infer?

Answer 19

a decrease in the anterior curve of the cervical or lumbar region

Question 20

What does the term hyperkyphotic infer?

Answer 20

an increase in the posterior curve of the thoracic/dorsal or pelvic/sacrococcygeal region

Question 21

What does the term hypokyphotic infer?

Answer 21

a decrease in the posterior curve of the thoracic/dorsal or pelvic/sacrococcygeal region

Question 22

What is the more complete, accepted definition of scoliosis?

Answer 22

an abnormal lateral curve coupled with axial rotation

Question 23

What is the relationship between degrees of lateral curve deviation, axial rotation, and care?

Answer 23

• curves with 10-20 degrees of lateral deviation and a fixed angle of trunk rotation have scoliosis
• curves with 20-30 degrees of lateral deviation and a fixed angle of trunk rotation of 5 degrees require attention
• curves with 30-50 degrees of lateral deviation and a fixed trunk rotation of 7 degrees require intervention as they have a 60% chance to worsen
• curves with greater than 50 degrees of lateral deviation have a 90% chance to worsen

Question 24

What is the radiological test for skeletal maturity?

Answer 24

• the Risser sign

- an indication of bone maturity in the iliac apophysis