Skip to content
Epomedicine
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

  • Medical Students
  • Bedside Clinics
  • Case Reports
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Blog
  • Surgical Skills
  • Medical Mnemonics
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Scheurmann’s Disease : Mnemonic

Epomedicine, Mar 27, 2021Oct 20, 2022

Last updated on October 20, 2022

Mnemonic: Remember “S” for Scheurmann

Structural kyphosis (sagittal deformity) of thoracic or thoracolumbar spine

Skeletally immature sons (0.4-10% of adolescents between 10-14 years; onset with prepubertal growth spurt; M:F = 2-7:1)

Strong hereditary (genetic) predisposition and Several theories:

  1. Scheurmann’s vertebral epiphyseal disturbance theory
  2. Schmorl’s nodes (herniation of disc material into vertebral body)
  3. Structural weakness in vertebral body due to persistence of anterior vascular grooves (Ferguson)
  4. Secondary to juvenile vertebral osteoporosis (Bradford)
  5. Structural biochemical abnormality of collagen and matrix of vertebral endplates (Ippolito and Ponseti)

Slouching stance (poor posture) and Subacute thoracic pain

Sharp accentuated curve in forward bending test (in contrast to smooth curve in postural kyphosis)

Stiff (rigid) kyphosis (not easily corrected with postural changes or passive manipulation; no correction on hyperextension radiographs)

Spondylolysis, Scoliosis, Skin pigmentation at the apex of kyphosis (Stagnara et.al.), Spinal cord compression (rare)

Scheurmanns disease kyphosis
Daniel McFadden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sorensen’s radiographic criteria for classical/typical Scheurmann’s disease (thoracic commonly):

  1. Kyphosis of 40 degrees AND
  2. Vertebral wedging of 5 degrees over atleast 3 consecutive vertebral levels

Scheurmann’s vertebral end-plate irregularities, Schmorl’s node and Space (disc space) narrowing with or without Sorensen’s radiographic criteria in atypical Scheurmann’s disease (thoracolumbar or lumbar commonly).

Subtractive (negative) Sagittal balance (distance measured from sacral promontory to plumb line dropped from center of C7 vertebral body; normal is +/- 2 cm)

Skeletal maturity assessment (Sander’s maturity scale or Risser stage)

Stretching and physiotherapy for less than Sixty degree (<60) kyphosis without Symptoms

Spinal fusion for more than Seventy five (>75) degree kyphosis, Spinal cord compression and Severe refractory pain (Bracing for everything else)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS Musculoskeletal systemOrthopedics

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Epomedicine. Scheurmann’s Disease : Mnemonic [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2021 Mar 27 [cited 2025 May 9]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/scheurmanns-disease-mnemonic/.

Pre-clinical (Basic Sciences)

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Community medicine (PSM)

Embryology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Clinical Sciences

Anesthesia

Dermatology

Emergency medicine

Forensic

Internal medicine

Gynecology & Obstetrics

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

RSS Ask Epomedicine

  • What to study for Clinical examination in Orthopedics?
  • What is the mechanism of AVNRT?

Epomedicine weekly

  • About Epomedicine
  • Contact Us
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit Article
  • Editorial Board
  • USMLE
  • MRCS
  • Thesis
©2025 Epomedicine . All rights reserved.