Question
A four-year-old boy has been experiencing slight hunchback symptoms over the past year, with a sunken chest and a weight of about 30 jin. The child has received calcium supplementation treatment, and the parents are worried whether it is a sign of kyphosis.
Answer
Kyphosis may appear in children around one year old, characterized by an abnormal chest deformity with the sternum and adjacent cartilage protruding forward, forming a “pigeon chest” deformity. In severe cases of kyphosis, the lower edge of the chest may develop a horizontal indentation, known as the costodiaphragmatic groove or Hesselbach’s groove. At four years old, the possibility of sequelae from kyphosis is relatively high. It is recommended to undergo serum 25-(OH)D3, blood superoxide dismutase, and bone X-ray examinations to rule out sequelae from kyphosis.