TY - JOUR
T1 - Delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical fusion and retropharyngeal steroid use
T2 - A report of two cases
AU - Lee, Sang Hun
AU - Mesfin, Addisu
AU - Daniel Riew, K.
N1 - Funding Information:
Author disclosures: S-HL: Consulting: Medtronic (B/year); Speaking and/or Teaching Arrangements: Medtronic (B/year). AM: Grants: OREF (D, Paid directly to institution); Fellowship Support: AO Spine (E, Paid directly to institution). KDR: Royalties: Biomet, Medtronic, Osprey, Medyssey (G); Stock Ownership: Expanding Orthopedics, Amedica, Benvenue, Nexgen Spine, Osprey, Paradigm, Spinal Kinetics, Spineology, Vertiflex, PSD, Medyssey (A); Speaking and/or Teaching Arrangements: AOSpine, NASS (B, Honorarium); Trips/Travel: AOSpine, NASS, SRS, Broadwater, Selby Spine (Reimbursements only); Board of Directors: CSRS (Past President, unpaid position), AOSpine International (President, Board Member, Annual Stipend), Global Spine Journal (Deputy Editorial, unpaid position), Spine Journal (unpaid position), NASS (CME chair, Board member, unpaid position), Spine Surgery Today (Editorial Board, unpaid position); Endowments: Mildred B. Simon Endowment (F, Paid directly to institution); Grants: AOSpine (B, Paid directly to institution), Cerapedics (A, Paid directly to institution), Medtronic (C, Paid directly to institution); Fellowship Support: OREF (Spine Fellowship Support, Paid directly to institution).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Background context Prevertebral soft-tissue swelling (PSTS) after anterior cervical spine surgery may result in postoperative catastrophic airway complications and persistent dysphagia. Systemic or local corticosteroids have been used to decrease complications related to PSTS. To date, studies using retropharyngeal steroid (RS) have not reported complications with local steroids such as infection, pseudarthrosis, and other systemic adverse effects. Purpose The aim was to report delayed esophageal perforation in two patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery and RS use. Study design/setting This was a case report with a review of literature. Methods We presented two cases of delayed esophageal perforation without obvious cause in two patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery and RS use. Results A 45-year-old woman underwent C5-C6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for radiculopathy. Just before closing the wound, one ampule of triamcinolone acetate was placed in the retropharyngeal space. Two months postoperatively, she presented to the emergency department with clinical symptoms of esophageal perforation. Radiographic studies demonstrated a retropharyngeal abscess. A 0.5×1.0-cm sized esophageal defect was identified during the emergency surgery. Complete healing of the esophageal defect was achieved by revision repair with reinforcement using local muscle flap. A 65-year-old man with a history of ankylosing spondylitis presented with severe dysphagia 1 year after C7 pedicle subtraction osteotomy, C2-T4 posterior instrumentation, and C6-C7 ACDF with a plate for a chin-on-chest deformity. Before closure, 1 cc of depomedrol had been placed into the wound. Eleven months postoperatively, he complained of new onset dysphagia. The endoscopic examination demonstrated an esophageal tear with visualization of the anterior cervical plate through the tear. Successful healing was possible with primary repair. Conclusions Retropharyngeal steroids have been shown to decrease PSTS and dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery. We believe that it would be prudent to consider avoiding the RS use in patients with a history of chronic corticosteroid use and/or soft-tissue vulnerability or only to use them with caution. Any history of dysphagia that occurs weeks, months, or even years later should be investigated for the possibility of esophageal perforation.
AB - Background context Prevertebral soft-tissue swelling (PSTS) after anterior cervical spine surgery may result in postoperative catastrophic airway complications and persistent dysphagia. Systemic or local corticosteroids have been used to decrease complications related to PSTS. To date, studies using retropharyngeal steroid (RS) have not reported complications with local steroids such as infection, pseudarthrosis, and other systemic adverse effects. Purpose The aim was to report delayed esophageal perforation in two patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery and RS use. Study design/setting This was a case report with a review of literature. Methods We presented two cases of delayed esophageal perforation without obvious cause in two patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery and RS use. Results A 45-year-old woman underwent C5-C6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for radiculopathy. Just before closing the wound, one ampule of triamcinolone acetate was placed in the retropharyngeal space. Two months postoperatively, she presented to the emergency department with clinical symptoms of esophageal perforation. Radiographic studies demonstrated a retropharyngeal abscess. A 0.5×1.0-cm sized esophageal defect was identified during the emergency surgery. Complete healing of the esophageal defect was achieved by revision repair with reinforcement using local muscle flap. A 65-year-old man with a history of ankylosing spondylitis presented with severe dysphagia 1 year after C7 pedicle subtraction osteotomy, C2-T4 posterior instrumentation, and C6-C7 ACDF with a plate for a chin-on-chest deformity. Before closure, 1 cc of depomedrol had been placed into the wound. Eleven months postoperatively, he complained of new onset dysphagia. The endoscopic examination demonstrated an esophageal tear with visualization of the anterior cervical plate through the tear. Successful healing was possible with primary repair. Conclusions Retropharyngeal steroids have been shown to decrease PSTS and dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery. We believe that it would be prudent to consider avoiding the RS use in patients with a history of chronic corticosteroid use and/or soft-tissue vulnerability or only to use them with caution. Any history of dysphagia that occurs weeks, months, or even years later should be investigated for the possibility of esophageal perforation.
KW - Anterior cervical fusion
KW - Corticosteroid
KW - Delayed esophageal perforation
KW - Dysphagia
KW - Prevertebral soft-tissue swelling
KW - Retropharyngeal steroid
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U2 - 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.06.058
DO - 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.06.058
M3 - Article
C2 - 26130084
AN - SCOPUS:84942429922
SN - 1529-9430
VL - 15
SP - e75-e80
JO - Spine Journal
JF - Spine Journal
IS - 10
ER -