Abstract
Pharyngeal perforation is a serious complication of anterior cervical fusion surgery. If it is not diagnosed in the early period and the treatment is delayed, catastrophic consequences may occur which may cause death such as septicemia, mediastinitis, pneumonia and meningitis.
Highlights
Anterior cervical fusion surgery (ACFS) is one of the most commonly performed treatment for degenerative disc disease with or without myelopathy, trauma and neoplastic lesions of cervical spine [1]
Pharyngeal perforation and spontaneous extrusion of the C2-C3 fixation device occurred after eight years from surgery
The patients who underwent anterior cervical fusion surgery that contains the C3 level are at risk of pharyngeal perforation
Summary
Anterior cervical fusion surgery (ACFS) is one of the most commonly performed treatment for degenerative disc disease with or without myelopathy, trauma and neoplastic lesions of cervical spine [1]. The incidence of delayed pharyngoesophageal perforation from anterior cervical spine hardware is between 0.25% to 1.49% [4]. Another serious complication after ACFS is migrating and/or missing screws [5]. This occurs as a result of a rupture at the pharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and/or esophageal wall. The route of the migration is the gastrointestinal trunk more frequently [6]. Respiratory system is a very rare and alternative route for this complication, which was reported three times in the literature [7,8,9].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
