title: Esophageal and vertebral artery injuries during complex cervical spine surgery--avoidance and management.
abstract: Vertebral artery and esophageal injuries are rare but feared complications of cervical spine surgery. Appropriate understanding of treatment algorithms for prompt intervention in the event of a vertebral artery injury minimizes the risk of exsanguination and/or profound neurologic consequences. Esophageal injuries are often more subtle, and although intraoperative injuries can sometimes be diagnosed at the time of surgery, they frequently do not present until the week after surgery. They can additionally be seen as a late complication of instrumentation usage and/or failure. Expedient diagnosis and management of these injuries minimize their impact and allow for optimal treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Two Medical Park, Suite 404, Columbia, SC 29203, USA. gregory.grabowski78@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grabowski
authors.forename: Chris A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cornett
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000293:injuries; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*