Major Neurological Deficit Following Neck Hyperextension During Dental Treatment

Introduction: Medical literature has long reported the disastrous effects of neck hyperextension on posterior cerebral circulation. Hairdresser-related ischemic cerebrovascular event, also called beauty parlor syndrome, among other examples, is considered an epitome of this phenomenon. Case Report: In this report, alluding to hairdresser-related ischemic cerebrovascular event, 2 cases of neurological impairment following hyperextension of the neck during dental treatment append to the many others, yet being 2 of the first reported in this setting. In one of the cases, the patient developed classic stroke symptoms during dental treatment, while in the other, the deficit developed the day after the dental procedure. Both patients were treated with low–molecular-weight heparin during their stay at the hospital. In the first patient, the deficit was permanent, while in the second, the deficit was more subtle and temporary. Conclusions: Pathogenesis, as well as predisposing factors, are discussed, and new terminology is established as a means to encourage research on this rare complication of neck positioning on dental chairs.