Acute Respiratory Distress in a Hospitalized Patient Revealing Cervical Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a clinical condition marked by calcification and ossification of primarily ligaments of the spine and peripheral entheses. It predominantly affects older adults, with a prevalence rate of up to 42% in individuals over 65 years. It commonly presents with dysphagia. Stridor secondary to osteophyte compression has rarely been documented. This report discusses a patient who was admitted for alcohol intoxication following binge drinking and subsequently developed respiratory distress and unexplained stridor during hospitalization. He was intubated twice and later diagnosed with cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). The patient was discharged with a tracheostomy tube in situ and referred to a higher center for surgical management.