eMedicine Specialties > Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation > Medical Diseases

Scheuermann Disease: Follow-up

Author: Jozef E Nowak, MD, Consulting/Admitting Physiatrist, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kelowna General Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 2, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • For rare cases of Scheuermann's disease that require surgical intervention, the patient typically is hospitalized for a recovery time following the operation. Inpatient care focuses on pain control, mobility training, and patient education.

Further Outpatient Care

  • Patients with Scheuermann's disease most commonly are treated successfully on an outpatient basis. Conservative measures may include rest, NSAIDs, bracing, and physical therapy. See Rehabilitation Program for more information. The physician should schedule regular follow-up visits over the course of treatment to monitor progress and modify the plan of care when necessary.

Complications

  • Complications that may develop from Scheuermann's disease include chronic back pain, progressive deformity, and neurologic deficits. Following operative treatment, the most common complication is pseudoarthrosis, following by instrumentation failure and secondary loss of correction.

Patient Education

  • Patient education is very important throughout the treatment process for Scheuermann's disease. Patients who are treated with bracing need to be educated in the proper techniques of donning and doffing of their braces, as well as in an appropriate wearing schedule. An exercise program needs to be presented to the patient, with a focus on spinal extension exercises and hamstring stretching. Education is necessary also to improve the patient's posture and overall body mechanics with daily activities.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to diagnose or properly treat Scheuermann's disease
 


More on Scheuermann Disease

Overview: Scheuermann Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Scheuermann Disease
Treatment & Medication: Scheuermann Disease
Follow-up: Scheuermann Disease
Multimedia: Scheuermann Disease
References
Further Reading
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References

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  18. Rauschmann MA, Habermann B, Engelhardt M, et al. [Pott triad and Schmorl nodules. A historical overview of kyphosis with special reference to tuberculous spondylitis and Scheuermann disease]. Orthopade. Dec 2001;30(12):903-14. [Medline].

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Keywords

Scheuermann disease, Scheuermann's disease, kyphosis, scoliosis, Scheuermann's, Scheuermann's kyphosis, Scheuermann, idiopathic scoliosis, kyphotic, thoracic kyphosis, juvenile kyphosis, Scheuermann kyphosis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Jozef E Nowak, MD, Consulting/Admitting Physiatrist, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kelowna General Hospital
Jozef E Nowak, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Association of America, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Elizabeth A Moberg-Wolff, MD, Associate Professor and Pediatric PM&R Fellowship Director, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Wisconsin; Program Director, Tone Management and Mobility, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Elizabeth A Moberg-Wolff, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Disclosure: Medtronic Neurological Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Michael T Andary, MD, MS, Residency Program Director, Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Michael T Andary, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Medical Association, and Association of Academic Physiatrists
Disclosure: allergan Honoraria Speaking and teaching

CME Editor

Kelly L Allen, MD, Regional Medical Director, IMX-Medical Management Services
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Denise I Campagnolo, MD, MS, Director of Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research and Staff Physiatrist, Barrow Neurology Clinics, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center; Investigator for Barrow Neurology Clinics; Director, NARCOMS Project for Consortium of MS Centers
Denise I Campagnolo, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Paraplegia Society, Association of Academic Physiatrists, and Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers
Disclosure: Teva Neuroscience Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Serono-Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching

 
 
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