Severe cervical kyphosis in a young adult with fixed dropped head syndrome, dysphagia, and myelopathy: A case report.

Abstract

Several reports exist on syndromic cervical kyphosis in the elderly, including dropped head syndrome, degenerative spondylosis, and neurological diseases; however, it is rarely reported in young patients especially with complications. We describe a case of a 25-year-old man who presented severe cervical kyphosis with dropped head syndrome, horizontal-gaze disorder, dysphagia, and myelopathy. The etiology of this cervical kyphosis was suspected to be as a result of a combination of an underlying developmental disorder and habitual, long-term cervical flexion postures while engaging in smartphone games. Combined anterior and posterior surgeries resulted in good outcomes and improved the patient's quality of life remarkably. Cervical kyphosis awareness in young patients is crucial. Moreover, combined anterior and posterior approach provides secure, good results, and with less sequelae.