Caption

Curved spine due to osteoporosis. Profile X-ray of the curved spine of an 80-year-old woman with osteoporosis. The curved spine, bending back-to- front rather than sideways, is known as kyphosis. Osteoporosis has reduced the bone density of the spine, leading to the vertebrae undergoing crush fractures. This has resulted in a hunched back. In the elderly, treatment is usually aimed at preventing or slowing further degeneration.