Fact-sheet: Scheuermann disease
Updated on 10/06/2016 at 9:15 AM
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Definition
Scheuermann disease = growth-related spinal dystrophy = juvenile epiphysitis = juvenile vertebral osteochondritis.
Exaggerated, juvenile, painful thoracic kyphosis with vertebral wedging.
Belongs to the osteochondroses: a disorder of enchondral ossification occurring during bone growth.
Initially described by HW Scheuermann in 1920.
Affects 1 to 10% of the population (underestimated ++).
Mean age = 13 years.
Male predominance.
Overlapping pathogenic factors (traumatic, ischemic, genetic).
Clinical features
Circumstances of discovery:
- Onset of early, painful thoracic kyphosis in young athletes.
- Scoliosis (in 20% of cases).
- Mid-thoracic back pain.
- Sometimes asymptomatic:
burned-out form of Scheuermann disease.
Frequent incidental finding +++.
Typically found in middle-aged men or women presenting with chronic thoracolumbar back pain.
Radiography
Sorenson criteria:
Wedging ≥ 5°
Involving at least 3 adjacent vertebrae
Excluding an infectious, traumatic, or congenital etiology
CT
Sorenson criteria:
On at least 3 contiguous vertebrae:
1 - Irregular/scalloped appearance of the vertebral endplates
2 - Disc space narrowing
3 - Central Schmorl's node
4 - Wedging ≥ 5°
5 - Anterior marginal (retro-marginal) node
6 - Posterior marginal (pre-marginal) node
7 - Free epiphysis, "limbus" vertebra
Differential diagnosis
Post-traumatic compression fracture
