ABSTRACT

Kyphosis is the term used to describe both the normal curvature and abnormal curvature of the dorsal spine. A dorsal curve of up to 30° is normal. Excessive angulation may either be due to a generalized increase in the dorsal curve or a localized kyphos (or gibbus). The age of presentation will suggest the likely pathology, e.g. a congenital cause in children and pathological fracture or Paget’s disease in the elderly.