What Is Congenital Kyphosis? Kyphosis is a rounding of the back that makes it look hunched over. Congenital kyphosis means the child was born with the condition. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Congenital Kyphosis? The rounded back may be seen at birth as a lump in the back, or it may take time to become obvious. Sometimes it is noticed when the child starts walking. What Causes Congenital Kyphosis? Small bones (called vertebrae) make up the spine. They look like stacked bricks and are connected by a type of elastic tissue called cartilage . In congenital kyphosis, the front edge of one or more of the bones in the upper back doesn’t develop properly. So when the vertebrae stack up, the spine curves and makes the back round out. Who Gets Congenital Kyphosis? Doctors don’t know why some kids have this condition. How Is Congenital Kyphosis Diagnosed? To diagnose congenital kyphosis, doctors will: examine the spine get X-rays to see the curve in the bones do an MRI for more detailed images of the spine How Is Congenital Kyphosis Treated? Observation. If it appears the rounding of the back isn't going to cause any problems, kyphosis may not need any treatment. Kids will have routine checkups to see how the rounding changes while the child is growing. Most cases will stop progressing when kids are done growing. Surgery. Doctors might recommend a surgery called a spinal fusion for a severe case that causes pain, breathing trouble, or neurologic symptoms like tingling or weakness. What Else Should I Know? Kids with congenital kyphosis also can have kidney, heart, or intestine problems. So when a child is diagnosed with this problem, the doctor will order other tests to make sure the rest of the body is healthy. If you notice lump or a hunched shape in your child’s neck or back, call your doctor for an evaluation. Back to Articles Related Articles Cervical Kyphosis Cervical kyphosis is a curve at the top of the spine (backbone). Usually, the condition isn't serious, but a pinch in the spinal cord can cause nerve damage. Read More Postural Kyphosis Postural kyphosis is rounding or hunching of the back that usually affects teens. Read More Scheuermann's Kyphosis Scheuermann's kyphosis is a condition affecting the upper back that makes it rounded so it looks hunched over. Read More Kyphosis Your spine, or backbone, normally curves forward gently as it runs up your back. Sometimes, though, someone's back can be rounded too far forward, which is a condition known as kyphosis. Read More Kyphosis Everyone's spine is slightly rounded forward at a gentle angle. If this angle is too pronounced, more than 50 degrees or so, it's called kyphosis, also known as roundback or hunchback. Read More Kyphosis Factsheet (for Schools) What teachers should know about this curvature of the spine, and how to help students with kyphosis do their best in school. Read More Idiopathic Scoliosis Kids of any age can have idiopathic scoliosis, but it's usually found when a child begins going through puberty. Find out more about the signs of and treatment for idiopathic scoliosis. Read More Scoliosis Scoliosis makes a person’s spine curve from side to side. Large curves can cause health problems like pain or breathing trouble. Health care providers treat scoliosis with back braces or surgery when needed. Read More Scoliosis Scoliosis makes a person’s spine curve from side to side. Large curves can cause health problems like pain or breathing trouble. Health care providers treat scoliosis with back braces or surgery when needed. Read More Scoliosis: Bracing Some teens with scoliosis wear a brace to help stop their curve from getting worse as they grow. Find out more about how scoliosis braces work and how long people wear them in this article for teens. Read More Scoliosis: Bracing Some kids with scoliosis wear a brace to help stop their curve from getting worse as they grow. Find out more about the different types of scoliosis braces. Read More Spinal Fusion Surgery A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that's done to stabilize or straighten the bones in the back. It can help kids and teens with scoliosis. Read More Spinal Fusion Surgery A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that's done to stabilize or straighten the bones in the back. It can help some teens with scoliosis. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.