Perioperative complications of combined anterior and posterior cervical decompression and fusion crossing the cervico-thoracic junction.
METHODS
Retrospective review.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the perioperative complications for patients undergoing single stage, multilevel, anterior, and posterior cervical fusions crossing the cervico-thoracic junction.


BACKGROUND
Cervical spinal stenosis with kyphosis involving 3 or more disc levels is often treated via combined anterior decompression and posterior instrumented fusion. When long cervical fusions end at C7, many surgeons extend the posterior fusion across the cervico-thoracic junction to reduce the potential for adjacent segment breakdown. Perioperative complications associated with these procedures have not previously been described.


METHODS
A retrospective review of perioperative complications occurring in patients undergoing combined anterior decompression and posterior instrumented arthrodesis crossing the cervico-thoracic junction. The effect of operative time, blood loss, and fluid replacement on the need for extended intubation was tested with a Fisher exact test.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients fit the inclusion criteria. Nine patients experienced at least 1 complication (69%, 9/13) during the perioperative period, comprising 16 minor and 5 major complications. The most common complications were dysphagia (46%, 6/19) and airway edema requiring extended intubation (38%, 5/13).


CONCLUSIONS
Complications are frequent following these procedures, although the majority were minor and resolved without lasting effect. Airway edema requiring prolonged intubation or reintubation was frequent. With the numbers available, we were unable to show a relationship between the need for extended intubation and variables including operative time, blood loss, or volume of fluid replacement.
Hart
Robert A
RA
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR 97239, USA. hartro@ohsu.edu
Tatsumi
Robert L
RL
Hiratzka
Jayme R
JR
Yoo
Jung U
JU
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*