[The natural history of congenital defects and deformities of the spine (I)].

The functional assessment of individuals with congenital defects of the spine requires a differentiated judgement. A lumbalisation or sacralisation of the lumbosacral junction does not seem to be associated with increased lower back pain. However, it remains unclear whether this is the case in individuals with a spina bifida occulta. Defects of segmentation or formation alter the biomechanical loading of the spine, especially in cases of a secondary spinal deformity the functional status can be substantially impaired. Spinal deformities include idiopathic scoliosis, Scheuermanns kyphosis and spondylolisthesis. Depending on the severity of the deformity, they can affect the functional status and may be associated with increased lower back pain.