The disturbing condition was documented by doctors in Iran, who released images showing the shocking angle of the man’s neck. His neck had become so severely weakened that it was no longer able to hold his head upright.
According to the medical team, the man’s prolonged use of amphetamines commonly known as speed was responsible for inducing a condition described as a ‘fixed kyphotic neck position’. In this state, his chin persistently drooped toward his chest and remained there for extended periods.
One of the main challenges facing the doctors was determining whether the patient’s severe neck deformity would have occurred naturally, or if it had been directly influenced by his drug habits.
After careful examination, doctors concluded that before the onset of his substance abuse, there was no indication or medical history suggesting that he was predisposed to develop such a rare and debilitating condition.
“The drug does not have a direct effect on musculoskeletal changes’, he explained.”
“Instead there is an indirect effect: when the patient uses the drug, they remain in a certain position for a long time, and over months this results in musculoskeletal changes that led to kyphoscoliosis.”
Although this disorder is commonly linked with neuromuscular diseases such as motor neurone disease, medical experts emphasize that substance abuse can also be a trigger in certain cases.
Reports indicate that the Iranian man had been enduring troubling symptoms for approximately 15 months. These included persistent neck pain and paresthesia, a condition marked by abnormal sensations like tingling or prickling.
Although the extent of his condition may have appeared obvious to the naked eye, a CT scan provided confirmation, revealing significant deformities in the structure of his spine. Interestingly, doctors observed that when the man was placed under general anaesthesia, his posture temporarily improved, indicating some degree of flexibility.
Surgical intervention was ultimately deemed necessary to remove the affected and deformed bone structure. Fortunately, following the operation, the man demonstrated a remarkable recovery. With the support of a hard neck collar, he was able to walk as early as the day after the surgery was completed.
The attending physicians were greatly encouraged by his post-operative recovery, especially after observing that his spine had returned to a more normal alignment within a few months.