title: Delayed Esophagus Perforation after Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.
abstract: Esophageal perforation is a serious possible complication after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). It usually occurs during the first postoperative day. Esophageal perforation is a potentially life-threatening complication. A 63-year-old man who underwent ACDF 8 years prior visited our emergency room with recurrent aspiration pneumonia, fever, dysphagia and neck pain. Endoscopic study showed esophageal perforation by cervical plate. Successful treatment of the perforation resulted after surgical repair using a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. We presented a rare case of delayed esophageal perforation after ACDF and successful treatment of the perforation by surgical repair using a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sei-Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Bok
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Suok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Cervical vertebrae; Complications; Esophageal perforation