title: Recurrent anterior cervical wound abscesses following cervical corpectomy and fusion surgery from an odontogenic source mimicking an esophageal perforation: a case report.
abstract: Infection is an uncommon complication of anterior cervical spine surgery. Most deep postoperative infections are thought to be related to occult esophageal perforation. Direct inoculation from the oropharynx has not been previously reported in the literature.
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study is to report a case of recurrent infection after anterior cervical decompression and fusion suspected to have resulted from direct communication between the oropharynx and deep neck space.
  
  
  
  This study is a case report.
  
  
  
  This study included longitudinal clinical and radiological follow-up.
  
  
  
  A 48-year-old woman who underwent anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion from C3 to C6 and posterior spinal fusion from C3 to C7 presented at 2 weeks and 5 months postoperatively with a deep neck space infection. She underwent surgical debridement each time. Workup of the second infection found a subtle cortical breach in the mandible at the site of prior invasive dental work.
  
  
  
  This case describes the workup and management of a patient who presented with recurrent deep neck space infection following anterior cervical spine surgery. This is the first report of a postoperative infection related to direct communication between the oropharynx and deep neck space via a cortical breach of the mandible.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: Tiffany J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals/Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Mithun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neral
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals/Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Electronic address: kangjd@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion; Anterior cervical decompression and fusion; Cervical spine; Infection; Odontogenic infection; Recurrent abscess