The symptoms and treatment of pathological kyphosis of the cervical spine

Cervical kyphosis – a concept that is somewhat unusual to the ear doctor. Anatomically in the cervical spine there is a lordosis is a concavity forward. The term "kyphosis" means a concavity backwards, which physiologically exist in the thoracic and sacral divisions.

Strong straightening and hyperextension of the cervical concavity in the opposite direction is rare and associated with severe clinical symptoms. If this pathology appears in children after birth, you can suspect congenital anomalies of the vertebral. In adolescence, the pathology may be formed as a result of the disease of Chairman Mau ( abnormal formation of the spinal hump in the thoracic region due to the wedge-shaped deformation of the vertebrae).

Classification and cause of disease

Pathological kyphosis in the neck can be:

• Purchased
• Natural.

Congenital kyphosis is a rare phenomenon. It may form with the weakness of the cervical muscles and vertebral anomalies (cleft arches between them, atlantoaxial defective joint (between C1, C2 and the occiput)).

C1 and C2 – first and second cervical vertebrae. Anatomically to refer to their belonging to a particular Department of a vertebrae is considered to mark the following letters:

1. With -- cervical spine;
2. Th — thoracic;
3. L —lumbar;
4. S —sacral.

Acquired concavity posteriorly in the cervical spine, depending on the structure is classified into:

• Arcuate
• Proobrazom.

When the arch-type rear part of the back becomes arched as pathological cervical kyphosis combined with physiological breast bulge.

Probrosy type characterized by the presence of an acute angle in the top of the curve.

due to kyphosis can be divided into:

• Nerve – disorders of the contractile ability of the muscles in lesions of the brain (e.g., cerebral palsy);
• Rachitic because of violations of the formation of bone structure with insufficient levels of vitamin D in the body;
• Degenerative – in violation of the biochemical exchange and blood supply of the spine;
• Infectious – due to deformation of the vertebrae in tuberculosis, spondylitis (inflammation of vertebrae);
• Senile – in the elderly spinal deformity result from involution of the vertebral column and the presence of many comorbidities. Cervical kyphosis in this case is part of the symptom complex of "old back".

Symptoms and degree of pathology

The symptoms of the pathology are significantly dependent on the severity of the disease. It should be noted that the kyphosis in the cervical spine is always pathological, as physiologically in this part of the vertebral column lordosis exists.

Due to the fact that the cervical peremeshivaete in the opposite direction, are formed pronounced clinical symptoms of the disease, which can be divided into:

1. Extravertebral;
2. Myofascial
3. Compression myelopathy.

pictures of before and after treatment

Vertebral extravertebral and symptoms

– Vertebral symptoms In this pathology is usually not accompanied by the absence of muscular-articular reflex (a symptom of brown-Samarskogo). A mandatory feature of the vertebral syndrome in this pathology is the disorder of mobility in the neck. A person complains about "a crunch when turning the head."

Cerebral symptoms in this disease arise from the infringement of the vertebral artery. They are accompanied by pain in the occipital region, loss of vision, hearing and incoordination with lesions of the vestibular apparatus. When turning the head symptoms are worse.

– Extravertebral symptoms If the cervical kyphosis is characterized by loss of Shebalino-extensor reflex in the elbow joint. The defeat of the trigeminal nerve on the affected side of the spinal cord is accompanied by weakness of eye muscles and lack of skin sensitivity.

In patients With severe compression of the nerve roots in the cervical spine can develop disorders of urination, as well as Central and peripheral paralysis (immobilization).

The Treatment of neurological disorders in the presence of spinal cord compression should be under the supervision of a neurosurgeon, as in most cases to eliminate them without surgery is impossible.

a syndrome of spinal cord lesions in the lower cervical spine

Compression myelopathy

The Most dangerous compressive myelopathy that develops when compression of the vertebral artery. It takes place in the transverse processes of the vertebrae, begins at the brachial plexus and empties into the basin of the basilar brain. Artery supplies blood to about 25% of brain structures.

The Symptoms of compressive myelopathy is increasing gradually, but constantly progressing. First man complains of pain in the neck, numbness or cold in the upper extremities. Over time develops weakness of the muscles and twitching of the fascia. These signs are associated with lesions of peripheral motoneurons of the upper limbs (parts of the nerve fibers localized in the shoulder girdle and upper extremities).

Violations of pain and temperature sensitivity is accompanied cervical kyphosis in the early stages. When compression of the spinal nerves at the level of C1 and C2, may be lacking sensitivity on the face (zone Zelder), as the affected trigeminal nerve.

In the specialized literature can be found the pain Lhermitte phenomenon (a symptom of "electric current") in which any movements of the head accompanied by "ionisation" in both hands, neck and along the spine. These paresthesias occur with lesions of the posterior spinal ganglia (see figure). Their treatment requires surgical intervention to relieve the compression of the spinal cord.

When hyperextension of the cervical spine is often compressed the spinal cord. Unilateral compression is accompanied by twitching muscles of the hand on the affected side, absence of skin sensation in the limbs.

a syndrome of spinal cord in upper cervical

Treatment of kyphotic curvature neck

Treatment of kyphotic curvature of the neck requires the elimination of the cause. If it develops on the background of osteoarthritis (failure of the intervertebral discs with a reduction of segmental spine cracks), shall be appointed anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, voltaren, Ketorolac). This can only be achieved the relief of pain.

The Main treatment pathology is based on wearing corrective corset Cervical and exercises designed to strengthen neck muscles and prevent the progression of pathological curvature.

The Approximate set of exercises that are assigned in cervical kyphosis:

• starting position with feet shoulder width apart. Slide behind the gymnastic stick, lift it to his shoulder blades and straighten your back. Sit down on the inhale and return to the starting position as you exhale. Repeat the exercise 10 times
• starting position, as in the previous exercise. Rise up on the toes, and slowly lift the hands upward in a circular motion through the sides. On exhalation return to the starting position;
• Take gymnastic stick and put it under the blades, fixing the elbow joints. Inhaling stretch the hands forward and place your head back. Return to the starting position as you exhale;
• push down on your hands and knees, on all fours. Lift your head up, take in hand, the elbows, the rotten rib cage down. In this position, crawled to the end of the room and back;
• Lying on your back, extend your arms along the body. Bend the spine in the cervical spine on the inhale. At the same time try to lean on the back of the head and elbows. On the exhale return to the starting position;
• Lying on his stomach, lean on your forearm and lift up the chest. Return to the starting position as you exhale;
• Take the knee-wrist position. Bend at the elbow joints, hands, lower your chest to the floor and perform the movement forward corps. Slowly return to the starting position;
• Put your hands behind your head. Raise your hands up and spread them apart on the inhale. Return to the starting position as you exhale. The number of repetitions – 10-12.

It is Important to understand that the treatment of kyphosis of the cervical spine based on treatment of the underlying cause of pathology. Without a liquidation medical gymnastics, physical therapy and conservative methods will not yield the desired result.