Scheuermann’s Disease of the Thoracolumbar Spine in a Boy

Scheuermann’s disease (juvenile kyphosis dorsalis) is a structural kyphosis of the thoracic spine initially described by Scheuermann in 1921. It occurs commonly in adolescents (0.4–8.3% of the general population). It is characterized by irregularities of the vertebral end plates, the presence of Schmorl’s nodes, disk-space narrowing, and vertebral wedging. Scheuermann’s disease is rarely associated with neurological complications [1]. The cause of Scheuermann’s disease remains unknown. Several theories have been suggested involving release of excess growth hormone, defective formation of collagen fibrils with subsequent weakening of the vertebral end plates, juvenile osteoporosis, trauma, vitamin A deficiency, poliomyelitis, and epiphysitis [2].

We report the case of a nine-year-old boy with a history of chronic fatigue. He had no deformity. Scheuermann’s disease was discovered only because he underwent radiography. Lateral radiography showed multiple Schmorl’s nodes (long arrow), disk-space narrowing, and limbus vertebra (short arrow) in the lumbar spine (Figure 1). T1- and T2-weighted sagittal MR images revealed multiple Schmorl’s nodes, disk-space narrowing, and irregularities of the thoracic (Figure 2a) and lumbar (Figure 2b) vertebral end plates.