[Causes of camptocormia]

Abstract

In this society with an ever increasing number of the elderly there is an increasing number of causes of a bent spine syndrome (camptocormia/dropped head syndrome). The causes include neurological, neuro-orthopedic, rheumatological and psychiatric disorders. Parkinson's disease, dystonia and neuromuscular diseases (motor neuron disease, myositis and muscular dystrophy) with weakness of the axial muscles may result in bent spine syndrome and is often combined with a dropped head. Disc herniation, hypertrophic spondylosis or pseudospondylolisthesis with spinal narrowing may lead to an abnormal flexion of the trunk. Ankylosing spondylitis can produce a disabling bent spine syndrome. Camptocormia may also be mimicked by osteoporotic fractures of the vertebral bones with wedge-shaped vertebrae. In some cases camptocormia is related to a psychogenic disorder.