What can cause irregular bone structure in a childs back, around the spine and upper back?
There are several ossification centers in each vertebra, and sometimes they do not form properly or fail to fuse to form a single vertebra. So sometimes you have a hemi-vertebra. If several of these are juxtaposed, a notable deformity will result, often in the form of kyphosis or scoliosis. Tuberculosis of the spine, known as Pott’s disease, can cause severe spinal deformity. So can other infections. Neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy and various forms of muscular dystrophy can also produce kyphoscoliosis. Von Scheuermann’s disease is also known as adolescent roundback disease. Then there are a host of skeletal dysplasias, some associated with immune deficiency, others with kidney problems, still others with hearing impairment, and then the various forms of dwarfism.
