Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

334 The Musculoskeletal System
See also ADENOMA; BREAST
CANCER; COLORECTAL
CANCER; SURGERY BENEFIT AND RISK ASSESSMENT.
lordosis An abnormally exaggerated inward curvature
of the lumbar spine at the small of the
back, giving the appearance of protruding buttocks
in the back and protruding belly in the front.
Lordosis may result from congenital abnormalities
of the spine and often develops when a child
begins to walk. CONGENITAL HIP DYSPLASIA, CEREBRAL
PALSY, SPINA BIFIDA, and neuromuscular disorders in
which the muscles are weak are common congenital
causes for lordosis. Lordosis is also common in
ACHONDROPLASIA and other forms of SKELETAL DYS-
PLASIA.
Lordosis does not usually cause symptoms
other than its appearance. Sometimes lordosis
results from habitual poor posture. X-RAY is usually
sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment
attempts to prevent progression of the curvature
as well as to correct the existing deformity to
retain spinal stability for support of the axial
SKELETON. However, most lordosis in otherwise
healthy children corrects itself as the child grows.
See also CONGENITAL ANOMALY; KYPHOSIS; SCOLIOSIS;
SURGERY BENEFIT AND RISK ASSESSMENT.