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

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.

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.

Average age 35 years (18 to 65), male predominance (1.8:1), occupational risk factors: 16%; only 24% practiced sports currently.

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.

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.