title: Resolution of low back symptoms after corrective surgery for dropped-head syndrome: a report of two cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical deformity can influence global sagittal balance. We report two cases of severe low back pain and lower extremity radicular pain associated with dropped-head syndrome. Symptoms were relieved by cervical corrective surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two Japanese women with dropped head syndrome complained of severe low back pain and lower extremity radicular pain on walking. Radiographs showed marked cervical spine kyphosis and lumbar spine hyperlordosis. After cervicothoracic posterior corrective fusion was performed, cervical kyphosis was corrected and lumbar lordosis decreased, and low back pain and leg pain were relieved in both patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical deformity can influence global sagittal balance. Marked cervical kyphosis in patients with dropped-head syndrome can induce compensatory thoracolumbar hyperlordosis. Low back symptoms in patients with dropped-head syndrome are attributable to this compensatory lumbar hyperlordosis. Symptoms of lumbar canal stenosis may result from cervical deformity and can be improved with cervical corrective surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. masaokod@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. takeo251274@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. hyper_inago@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Taigo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inada
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. koushi_k2005@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Koshiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. ootacoid2000@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. makisatoshi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. ikeda@kashiwacity-hp.or.jp.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. m-aramomi@sanmu-mc.jp.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aramomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. 19501114@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 30585775, Japan. masashiy@md.tsukuba.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chiba Aoba Municipal Hospital, 1273-2 Aoba-cho, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 2600852, Japan. chikato@fj8.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Chikato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mannoji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013577:Syndrome