What is a rib hump?

Thoracic prominence: When a person has scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, the spine can rotate as well as curve. The rotation of the spine causes the ribs on one side of the back to elevate resulting in a prominence or rib hump. Most of the hope will resolve if the person undergoes posterior spinal fusion to correct and fuse the deformed area of the spine.

Sign of scoliosis: Scoliosis is thought of as a lateral curvature of the spine, however it is actually more of a rotation of the spine. The rotation of the spine causes the ribs to stick out on one side. Hence a rib hump. As the scoliosis worsens typically so does the rib hump.