Unexpected ketamine effect in a patient with cervical dystonia

Excerpt

Cervical dystonia is the most common form of adult-onset focal dystonia [1‐3]. It is a highly disabling disorder that negatively impacts quality of life. Chemodenervation of affected muscles with botulinum toxin injections is a first-line treatment for most forms of focal dystonia, but the response can vary and reinjections are required every 3 months [4]. Other treatment options are largely symptomatic and empiric. Ketamine is a non-selective N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist with anesthetic, analgesic and anticonvulsant properties that has also been safely administered for the treatment of major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain states [5]. …