[The particularities of the adult Scheuermann's disease: study about 45 patients].

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to find out which factors favor the occurrence of pain in adult patients with Scheuermann's disease--a juvenile manifestation of osteochondrosis of the spine, to study the clinical and radiological signs, the role of rehabilitation and the means to avoid the recurrence of pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Descriptive and retrospective study about 45 adults treated by rehabilitation. A data sheet listed the patient's occupation, current practice of sport, antecedents (violent sport, traumatism, pain), presence of a family form, motive of consultation, clinical and paraclinical examinations and immediate and long-term results of rehabilitation. RESULTS: Average age 35 years (18 to 65), male predominance (1.8:1), occupational risk factors: 16%; only 24% practiced sports currently. ANTECEDENTS: sports 49%, spinal column traumatism 13%, dorsal and lumbar pain during adolescence 16%. Consultation motive: abnormal posture 4% and pain 96%. According to the examination: abnormal spinal column in 80% of cases. According to radiography, our patients were divided into 49% who were carriers of growth vertebral dystrophy and 51% who were carriers of the real Scheuermann's disease. The immediate results of rehabilitation were satisfactory, 75% of the results were very good and good. Between six months and four years, 70% of the results were very satisfactory. Exercises were observed in only 11% of the cases, and stopped after two months on average. CONCLUSION: Scheuermann's disease in adults is a different entity from that of the teenager for the major manifestation is pain and not aesthetic quality. The patient's occupation is rather sedentary; sport is beneficial. The functional rehabilitation is the basic treatment and recourse to surgery or dorso-lumbar braces is rare.