Kyphosis is the most common of the deviations in man and is most
often found in the dorsal region, although it may be in the
lumbar region. Congenital kyphosis is very rare in man, is
generally seen in monsters, and when it does exist is usually
accompanied by lordosis or spine bifida. We sometimes observe a
condition of anterior curvature of the lumbar and sacral regions,
which might be taken for a congenital lordosis, but this is
really a deformity produced after birth by the physiologic weight
of the body. Figure 131 represents a case of lordosis caused by
paralysis of the spinal muscles.
Analogous to this is what the accoucheurs call spondylolisthesis.
Scoliosis may be a cervicodorsal, dorsolumbar, or lumbosacral
curve, and the inclination of the vertebral column may be to the
right or left. The pathologists divide scoliosis into a myopathic
variety, in which the trouble is a physiologic antagonism of the
muscles; or osteopathic, ordinarily associated with rachitis,
which latter variety is generally accountable for congenital
scoliosis. In some cases the diameter of the chest is shortened
to an almost incredible degree, but may yet be compatible with
life. Glover speaks of an extraordinary deformity of the chest
with lateral curvature of the spine, in which the diameter from
the pit of the stomach to the spinal integument was only 5 1/2
inches.
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