Dropped head syndrome after bilateral cervical radiofrequency ablation. A case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction

Cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for cervical facet joint pain. It is considered a safe procedure, and permanent complications are very rare. We report a case of a patient who developed dropped-head syndrome (DHS) after bilateral treatment.

Case report

An 86-year-old man was referred to our pain clinic because of neck pain. One year before, he underwent bilateral multi-level cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation. Within the next 24 hours, he experienced progressive neck extensor muscle weakness. After a comprehensive examination, he was diagnosed with dropped head syndrome as a complication of the radiofrequency procedure. Conservative management was chosen, resulting in partial improvement of the muscular weakness.

Conclusion

The present case, along with others reviewed in this article, supports the recommendation against performing bilateral and multilevel cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation.