Life restored: woman recovers from dropped head syndrome

For years, 59-year-old Elizabeth Langer wasn't able to do the things she enjoyed most. She couldn't get her nails done, style her hair, or even prepare a meal, because she couldn't hold her head up.

As her condition worsened, even standing upright became a challenge.

"I wasn't able to do anything," Langer says. "I couldn't even go to the kitchen and make myself a meal becasue I wouldn't be able to hold my body up, and I would fall."

Over time, her head continued to drop farther and farther forward until her chin rested on her chest, and her eyes pointed toward her stomach.

The breaking point

One night, things went from bad to worse. Langer woke up to use the bathroom and suddenly found herself unable to move. She immediately called 911 and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Doctors discovered that a metal implant from a previous correctional procedure was pressing against her spinal cord, causing paralysis. Every minute that passed increased her risk of permanent disability or death.

The hospital determined she needed to be transferred to a hospital that could provide specialized spinal care. "They gave me a choice between hospitals

She was airlifted to Loma Linda University Health, where she was evaluated by Namath Hussain, MD, MBA, vice chair of neurosurgery and director of spine and neuromodulation at Loma Linda University Health (LLUH).

What is dropped head syndrome?

During his evaluation, Hussain noted that Langer was suffering from severe chin-on-chest deformity caused by dropped head syndrome.

Dropped head syndrome occurs when weakness and degeneration in the neck and spine cause the head to progressively fall forward. In severe cases, patients lose the ability to look straight ahead.

"It's usually not the result of a sudden injury," Hussain says. "It's a slow degenerative process that affects the neck and spine over many years."

Years earlier, Langer had survived a violent attack that fractured her neck and caused significant damage to her cervical spine. While Hussain says the trauma likely accelerated her condition, other factors can cause dropped head syndrome, including:

• Osteoporosis
• Poor muscle strength
• Genetics
• Poor core strength

By 2023, the progression had become debilitating.

My head didn't drop all at once," Langer says. "Over the years it just kept dropping more and more. Before I knew it, I wasn't able to do the things I used to do."

The condition became so severe that eating grew difficult, causing her to lose more than 30 pounds.

"With this disease, your ability to engage in the world is destroyed," Hussain says. "It's almost like being blind. You're simply not able to see what's around you."

A complex surgery

To correct the deformity, Hussain performed a complex posterior spinal reconstruction.

Through an incision in the back of Langer's neck, he removed excess bone that had locked her spine into a fixed position. He then realigned her spine and skull and stabilized the correction using screws, rods, and an occipital fixation system.

After nearly 10 hours in the operating room, the procedure was complete.

Following surgery, Langer worked closely with physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists to regain her strength and mobility.

Life after her procedure

The improvement was almost immediate. Within days, Langer says she could feel her strength beginning to return. After about 20 days, she was walking without assistance for the first time in years.

Today, she's back to doing the things she once thought she might never do again. She gets her hair done, visits the nail salon, does her makeup, and most importantly, she's able to engage with the world around her.

"I'm finally able to do all the things I took for granted before my attack," Langer says. "God blessed me with Dr. Hussain, and I'll forever be grateful."

For Hussain, it's touching to see the impact the procedure has had on Langer's life.

"When I saw Elizabeth at her follow-up appointment, it was night and day," Hussain says. "She was standing tall, looking straight ahead, walking comfortably, and enjoying life again."

Hussain's advice

Hussain hopes Langer's story helps others recognize that severe posture changes are not simply part of aging. Many people live with neck pain, postural changes, or progressive spinal deformities without realizing treatment options are available.

"A lot of people think leaning forward is just part of getting older, but it isn't," Hussain says. "These conditions are often treatable, especially when they're addressed before they become severe."

Concerned about your or a loved one's posture or spinal health? Learn more about spinal correction and other spine and neurological services through Loma Linda University Health neurosurgery.