A 23-year-old man has developed a shocking condition after years of drug abuse.
The unnamed patient has been diagnosed with Dropped Head Syndrome (DHS), which sees his head and neck sitting at a 90-degree angle.
Doctors found that the condition appeared to be related to the young man’s history of drug use, as his head had lingered in that position for a long time after using various substances.
DHS is characterised by severe weakness of the neck muscles that results in a chin-on-chest deformity.
It is most commonly associated with neuromuscular disorders.
Professionals at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, located in Isfahan Province, in Iran, reported that drug use was not a known cause until now.
According to doctors, the patient came from an economically and socially disadvantaged background.
He had a history of severe depression and use of the drugs heroin, opium and amphetamine, as reported by Need To Know.
After using amphetamine in particular, the man often maintained a folded neck posture for a long period.
The man had tried to relieve symptoms of the condition at home using herbal remedies.
He had suffered with DHS for a total of 15 months before seeking professional help, according to a medical report, which was released on 22 April.
Cranial nerve tests, muscle strength tests and tests of his autonomic nervous system all showed normal results.
But results from a CT scan showed that the man had a severely deformed spine.
Doctors decided to operate and remove the deformed bone so that the placement of the neck could be altered.
The surgery was successful and the patient is now able to walk with the help of a special collar while he recovers.
He spent three days in the hospital and immediately attended therapy afterwards so that he could overcome his drug addiction.
The man has since had a follow-up at the hospital in Iran, and doctors found that the positioning and correction of the cervical spine were satisfactory.
He has also successfully managed to quit drugs.
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