Dropped Head Syndrome Caused by Thoracolumbar Deformity: A Report of 3 Cases

JBJS Case Connect. 2022 Oct 14;12(4). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.22.00280. eCollection 2022 Oct 1.

Abstract

Case: We present 3 patients with dropped head syndrome (DHS) caused by thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity who were successfully treated with thoracolumbar corrective surgery only. After the surgery, their symptoms, neck pain, and horizontal gaze difficulty disappeared, and cervical kyphotic alignment was improved indirectly. At the final follow-up, the whole spinal alignment was maintained, and there was no recurrence of symptoms.

Conclusion: Surgeons should consider thoracolumbar spine deformity as the possible primary cause of typical DHS symptoms and recognize that thoracolumbar corrective surgery is an effective method for treating DHS patients with thoracolumbar deformity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Kyphosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Kyphosis* / etiology
  • Kyphosis* / surgery
  • Muscular Diseases*
  • Neck Pain