Neurological symptoms in Scheuermann’s disease: review of rare clinical observations

Abstract

Neurological symptoms in Scheuermann’s disease are very rare, only a few dozen cases have been described. The main causes of spinal cord compression with the development of neurological symptoms in spinal deformities due to Scheuermann’s disease are compression by the anterior wall of the spinal canal, together with the dorsal leaflet of the dura mater, intervertebral hernia, and extradural bone cyst. The review provides a description of 38 clinical observations found in the literature. Compressing factors can also be spinal epidural lipomatosis and a displaced fragment of the annular apophysis. Scheuermann’s disease can be combined with syringomyelia. The magnitude of the kyphotic deformity does not correlate with the severity of neurological symptoms. Preoperative examination of a patient with Scheuermann’s disease should include methods that allow visualizing the condition of the spinal canal and its contents.