Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis)
Meaning of scheuermann's disease (kyphosis): For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) (also known as juvenile osteochondrosis of the spine): (a) means a disease of children and adolescents involving necrosis and regeneration in the growth centres of the thoracic or thoracolumbar vertebrae. It is characterised by a rigid hyperkyphosis due to anterior wedging of at least 5° in one or more consecutive vertebrae; and (b) clinical manifestations of postural deformity and/or subacute thoracic pain; and (c) excludes postural kyphosis. (3) While Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) attracts ICD-10-AM code M42.0, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 45 of 2025
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) or death from Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)engaging in strenuous physical activity for the 5 years before clinical worsening;
Note: This includes any sustained, repetitive strenuous activity that applies large forces or heavy loading to the spine. Examples include sports such as weightlifting, skiing, rugby or manual work such as bricklaying or construction.
- (2)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) before clinical worsening;
Note: clinical worsening is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 46 of 2025
1 factors
The following factor must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) or death from Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Scheuermann's disease (kyphosis) before clinical worsening;
Note: clinical worsening is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(1) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
