title: Unusual fatal infections after anterior cervical spine surgeries.
abstract: We report two cases of cervical spinal epidural abscess (SEA), which are related to anterior cervical surgeries. The first case reveals a late postoperative infection without any predisposing factor. The second case reveals combined complication of infection and instrument failure (artificial disc). Both two cases manifested ascending infections that are unusual courses of anterior cervical infections. The abscess extended upwards and, finally, caused life threatening bacterial meningitis. We suggest aggressive surgical interventions with anti-bacterial therapies in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Junseok W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo-Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Se-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tai-Hyoung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Keun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Artificial disc replacement; Cervical; Discectomy; Meningitis; Spinal epidural abscess