An assessment of an 89-year-old client with a history of severe congenital spinal deformity describes which condition?

• A. Kyphosis
• B. Lordosis
• C. Scoliosis
• D. Spinal stenosis

Answer: (A)

The main idea is recognizing how spinal curvatures present in the sagittal plane. Kyphosis is an excessive forward rounding of the thoracic spine, giving a hunched or stooped posture. In an elderly patient with a history of severe congenital spinal deformity, this forward curvature best describes the described condition, since congenital deformities often manifest as abnormal kyphotic curvature that persists or worsens with age due to degenerative changes and vertebral wedging.

The other conditions describe different patterns: lordosis is an exaggerated inward curve in the lower back, scoliosis is a sideways S-shaped or C-shaped curve, and spinal stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canal with potential nerve symptoms rather than a fixed curvature.