Acute ptotic myelopathy: cervical compressive myelopathy resulting from prolonged head ptosis after alcohol intoxication

Abstract

A 28-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with quadriparesis of acute onset after a bout of binge drinking. Evaluation revealed a mid-cervical myelopathy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an acute compressive cervical myelopathy. He also developed rhabdomyolysis, and cervical paraspinal muscles showed MRI hyperintensities. After resolution of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury, he underwent cervical spine fixation. He was found to have acute dropped head syndrome with secondary compressive myelopathy.

Keywords: acute myelopathy; intervertebral disc disruption; intoxication; neck flexion.