Is there a role for surgery in the management of dropped head syndrome?
We present a 50-year-old chronic epileptic man with a long-standing head drop, who fell sustaining multilevel thoracic vertebral body fractures. The antiepileptic medication was thought to be responsible for his osteoporosis and dropped head. We review the aetiology of the dropped head and report on our experience of surgery for this rare and disabling condition.
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK. amitamin@doctors.org.uk
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Amin
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Casey
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Etherington
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness; D009334:Neck Muscles; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011187:Posture; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010672:Phenytoin