The old and the new camptocormia

A forced posture with a forward-bent trunk was termed camptocormia by the French neurologist Souques in 1915. In his case history, which consisted of young soldiers, the condition occurred acutely, was usually psychogenic, lasted for months, and could be cured quickly and durably by a "persuasive" electrotherapy. Numerous similar cases were observed during the World War I and II and immediately thereafter. In the last 10 years, the same term has been used to describe kyphotic postural anomalies resulting from a primary or neurogenic affection of the paravertebral muscles. This condition mainly occurs in older women, takes a chronically progressive course, and responds well to corticosteroid therapy. To avoid misunderstandings of nomenclature, this somatic disease should not be designated as camptocormia, but rather as thoracolumbar kyphosis in old age.