Loss of Lordosis
Normally, the spine has three gentle curves: inward curves (lordosis) at the lumbar and cervical spine; and an outward curve (kyphosis) at the thoracic spine. These three curves allow for the spine to uphold the body over the hips and pelvis and maintain its center of gravity. Abnormal spine curvature does not follow the normal spine curves and results in a loss of the body’s alignment and center of gravity. Loss of lordosis is the flattening of the normal spinal lordosis in either the lumbar or cervical spine.
What’s in this section?
Signs and symptoms
Loss of lordosis causes a person’s center of gravity to be shifted. This causes symptoms such as:
- Difficulty standing upright or lifting the head upright
- Chronic and severe back or neck pain
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of loss of lordosis starts with a physical exam and medical history. Other procedures and tests may be needed to diagnose this condition, including x-rays , computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) .
Treatment options
Treatment options depend on the severity of your symptoms:
- Medication to control the pain.
- Physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles and give support to the spine.
- Spinal deformity correction surgery. This procedure involves many techniques to correct scoliosis, kyphosis or other deformities and bring your spine into a more normal alignment. It is used in spinal deformities that are developmental or that occur because of a degenerative spine condition. This type of surgery is often performed with severe spinal deformities or when the condition leads to restrictions in your daily life, pain or loss of function. During the procedure, your surgeon will relieve any pressure on your spinal cord or any nerves that may be compressed. Bone screws are placed in multiple vertebrae (the bones of the spine). These screws are connected to a rod. The rod is used to “pull” your spine into a more normal alignment. The number of screws and spinal levels depends on the location and severity of the spinal deformity. The surgical correction may require an osteotomy, which is a strategic cut in the vertebra used to loosen your spine and aid in realignment. If an osteotomy is needed, it is sometimes followed by placement of a cage, implant or graft to help with the correction of the deformity. Additionally, your surgeon may remove some of the intervertebral discs and replace them with a cage, implant or graft in order to aid in the correction of the spinal deformity. After the correction of the deformity, your surgeon will need to take measures to make sure your spinal bones fuse, or grow together. A successful outcome is greatly dependent on the fusion. Your surgeon may use a combination of your own bone, cadaver bone, bone matrix, stem cells and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to help your spine fuse.
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