Scheuermann’s disease describes a disorder of the spine growth in children that leads to exaggerated rounding of the back (kyphosis). The treatment will depend on the condition. Normally it may include medication to reduce the pain, orthosis to support regular growth and surgery to improve the deformity and physical therapy.
Kyphosis is a condition of the spine with forward bowing or rounding of the back, which can lead to a hunchback or forward slouching posture. Scheuermann’s disease is a condition where the vertebrae grow unevenly leading to a kyphosis. It is much more common in boys than in girls.
Scheuermann’s disease occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back become more wedge-shaped due to less growth in the anterior parts of the vertebra than in the posterior. It is the most common cause of kyphosis found in male teenagers. The cause of Scheuermann’s disease is the uneven physical stress on the vertebrae which leads to damage in the anterior growth area. Besides, a kyphosis can also be caused by a variety of other problems including 1) fractures caused by osteoporosis, 2) disk degeneration, 3) birth defect, 4) cancer and tumors, and 5) injuries. Along with a hunchback, people with kyphosis may have symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, fatigue, mild back pain, tenderness and stiffness in the spine.
The treatments of a kyphosis are indicated not only to relieve pain but also to correct a cosmetic deformity that is not acceptable. The treatments should prevent potential progression or worsening of the curve. The treatment will depend on the cause. In case of Scheuermann’s kyphosis, the disease is self limiting with finished growth. However, the hunchback and the corresponding symptoms may stay and an early treatment therefore is recommended. The treatment includes physical therapy, orthosis (corset) and in severe cases even surgery. For other causes of kyphosis the treatment is as follows: if the disease is congenital, it will require surgery at an early age. If the disease is caused by osteoporosis, then the underlying disease should be treated. Some cases will need surgery to improve the debilitating deformity, and after surgery, a brace to support the back and physical therapy to regain the physical strength may be suggested.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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