CONDITIONS EXPLAINEDFlatback
CONDITIONS EXPLAINEDFlatback
Proper alignment of the spine is essential to facilitate normal posture and gait. In flatback syndrome, a loss of lordosis or normal curvature of the spine resulting in symptoms of pain and fatigue. Symptoms usually progress over the course of a day as stress gradually compounds on the spine. Patients typically notice increasing difficulty maintaining erect posture, and pain usually presents in the low back, thighs, and groin.
Flatback syndrome is relatively rare, and was first described as a result of early surgical treatments for scoliosis that resulted in a flattening effect on the spine. Some conditions that may lead to flatback syndrome include:
- Ankylosing Spondylitis, a condition in which stiffness and loss of lordosis occur over the course of the inflammatory and arthritic disease.
- Degenerative Disc Disease may result in flatback syndrome as discs degenerate and lose their ability to provide normal lordosis of the spine.
- Post-laminectomy Syndrome, which is sometimes associated with failed back surgery syndrome, occurs after laminectomy for decompression of spinal nerves. If the spine is unable to compensate for the removed tissue, loss of lordosis may occur.
- Vertebral Compression Fractures usually result from degeneration of the vertebrae due to an underlying condition such as osteoporosis, and can lead to a flattening of the vertebral column.
Proper alignment of the spine is essential to facilitate normal posture and gait. In flatback syndrome, a loss of lordosis or normal curvature of the spine resulting in symptoms of pain and fatigue. Symptoms usually progress over the course of a day as stress gradually compounds on the spine. Patients typically notice increasing difficulty maintaining erect posture, and pain usually presents in the low back, thighs, and groin.
Flatback syndrome is relatively rare, and was first described as a result of early surgical treatments for scoliosis that resulted in a flattening effect on the spine. Some conditions that may lead to flatback syndrome include:
- Ankylosing Spondylitis, a condition in which stiffness and loss of lordosis occur over the course of the inflammatory and arthritic disease.
- Degenerative Disc Disease may result in flatback syndrome as discs degenerate and lose their ability to provide normal lordosis of the spine.
- Post-laminectomy Syndrome, which is sometimes associated with failed back surgery syndrome, occurs after laminectomy for decompression of spinal nerves. If the spine is unable to compensate for the removed tissue, loss of lordosis may occur.
- Vertebral Compression Fractures usually result from degeneration of the vertebrae due to an underlying condition such as osteoporosis, and can lead to a flattening of the vertebral column.
Experiencing Symptoms of Flatback?
Detection & Diagnosis
Diagnosis of flatback syndrome starts with patient history, as patients will typically present with a history of back pain and possibly prior surgery or underlying disease process. Subsequently, other diagnostic imaging may be performed to confirm and visualize the diagnosis, such as:
OUTCOMESRelated
Treatments & Procedures
Treatment of Flatback Syndrome may begin with conservative treatments including the use of NSAIDs and physical therapy. Usually these will be temporary measures, however, and spinal surgery of some form will be required. Generally one or more osteotomies will be required, and hardware will be implanted to assist with stabilization of the spine. Patients can expect recovery to take some months, but most achieve highly satisfactory results.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) is a procedure performed from the anterior to fuse vertebrae into a single structure. This technique is usually favored when..
Artificial Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacement is a procedure with the goal of removing a painful intervertebral disc and replacing it with a prosthetic one. Spinal fusion is much more commonly performed..
Decompression (Laminectomy)
Decompression Lumbar Laminectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed for the correction of stenosis in the back. The surgeon will remove or trim the bony lamina and a thick ligament..
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