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Cifosis - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Encorvadura de la espalda; Enfermedad de Scheuermann; Postura jorobada; Cifosis postural

Definición:

Es la curvatura de la columna que produce un arqueamiento o redondeo de la espalda, llevando a que se presente una postura jorobada o agachada.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La cifosis puede ocurrir a cualquier edad, aunque es rara en el momento del nacimiento.

La cifosis en adolescentes, también conocida como enfermedad de Scheuermann, es provocada por el apretamiento de varios huesos de la columna (vértebras) consecutivos. Se desconoce la causa de la enfermedad de Scheuermann.

En los adultos, la cifosis puede ser causada por:

Enfermedades degenerativas de la columna (como la artritis o degeneración de discos)
Fracturas causadas por osteoporosis (fracturas osteoporóticas por compresión)
Lesión (traumatismo)
Deslizamiento de una vértebra hacia adelante sobre otra ( espondilolistesis)

Otras causas de cifosis abarcan:

Ciertas enfermedades endocrinas
Trastornos del tejido conectivo
Infección (como tuberculosis)
Distrofia muscular
Neurofibromatosis
Enfermedad de Paget
Polio
Espina bífida
Tumores

La cifosis también se puede observar con escoliosis. Cada causa tiene sus propios factores de riesgo.

Columna vertebral

Cifosis

Reviewed last on: 7/28/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Spiegel DA, Hosalkar HS, Dormans JP. The spine. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 678.

Freeman BL III. Scoliosis and kyphosis. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 38.

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