Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review
Esophageal perforation is a rare but serious complication that can occur post-cervical spine surgery. This case report presents the clinical course, diagnostic challenges and management strategies of a patient who had a late-diagnosis esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery (ACS...
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Bioscientifica
2025-01-01
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| Series: | EFORT Open Reviews |
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| author | Hua Luo Zhangfu Wang Shuang Mi Wenjun Pan Xingbing Feng Zhenghua Hong |
| author_facet | Hua Luo Zhangfu Wang Shuang Mi Wenjun Pan Xingbing Feng Zhenghua Hong |
| author_sort | Hua Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Esophageal perforation is a rare but serious complication that can occur post-cervical spine surgery. This case report presents the clinical course, diagnostic challenges and management strategies of a patient who had a late-diagnosis esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS). A woman in her 50s underwent ACSS for cervical spondylosis. Three months postoperatively, she experienced persistent right neck and shoulder pain. Despite multiple consultations, an esophageal perforation was only diagnosed 10 years later when a neck mass ruptured, discharging food debris. Surgical management included removing the anterior cervical plate and reconstruction with a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. Postoperatively, she faced wound complications, and the perforation failed to heal despite multiple debridement and stent placements. Ultimately, complete excision of the diverticulum, repair of the perforation and muscle flap reconstruction led to her recovery, with no recurrence over an 8-year follow-up. We reviewed the literature on cases with esophageal perforation occurring more than 10 years after anterior cervical surgery and summarized the treatment experiences. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges and delayed presentation of esophageal perforation post-ACSS. Early recognition and multidisciplinary management are essential. In cases of late perforation, hardware removal, diverticulum excision and a muscle flap are critical to achieving successful closure of the esophageal lesion, preventing recurrence and ensuring comprehensive repair. Addressing esophageal diverticula during perforation treatment is crucial to prevent recurrence and ensure thorough repair. This highlights the need for high clinical suspicion and a coordinated surgical approach to improve patient outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e00d581f7fa4804b5eeb6043e667a29 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2058-5241 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Bioscientifica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EFORT Open Reviews |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e00d581f7fa4804b5eeb6043e667a292025-01-07T17:21:00ZengBioscientificaEFORT Open Reviews2058-52412025-01-01101576310.1530/EOR-24-01101Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature reviewHua Luo0Zhangfu Wang1Shuang Mi2Wenjun Pan3Xingbing Feng4Zhenghua Hong5Department of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaEsophageal perforation is a rare but serious complication that can occur post-cervical spine surgery. This case report presents the clinical course, diagnostic challenges and management strategies of a patient who had a late-diagnosis esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS). A woman in her 50s underwent ACSS for cervical spondylosis. Three months postoperatively, she experienced persistent right neck and shoulder pain. Despite multiple consultations, an esophageal perforation was only diagnosed 10 years later when a neck mass ruptured, discharging food debris. Surgical management included removing the anterior cervical plate and reconstruction with a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. Postoperatively, she faced wound complications, and the perforation failed to heal despite multiple debridement and stent placements. Ultimately, complete excision of the diverticulum, repair of the perforation and muscle flap reconstruction led to her recovery, with no recurrence over an 8-year follow-up. We reviewed the literature on cases with esophageal perforation occurring more than 10 years after anterior cervical surgery and summarized the treatment experiences. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges and delayed presentation of esophageal perforation post-ACSS. Early recognition and multidisciplinary management are essential. In cases of late perforation, hardware removal, diverticulum excision and a muscle flap are critical to achieving successful closure of the esophageal lesion, preventing recurrence and ensuring comprehensive repair. Addressing esophageal diverticula during perforation treatment is crucial to prevent recurrence and ensure thorough repair. This highlights the need for high clinical suspicion and a coordinated surgical approach to improve patient outcomes.https://eor.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eor/10/1/EOR-24-0110.xmlesophageal perforationanterior cervical surgerycomplicationesophageal diverticula |
| spellingShingle | Hua Luo Zhangfu Wang Shuang Mi Wenjun Pan Xingbing Feng Zhenghua Hong Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review EFORT Open Reviews esophageal perforation anterior cervical surgery complication esophageal diverticula |
| title | Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review |
| title_full | Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review |
| title_fullStr | Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review |
| title_short | Esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a case report and literature review |
| title_sort | esophageal perforation more than 10 years after anterior cervical spine surgery a case report and literature review |
| topic | esophageal perforation anterior cervical surgery complication esophageal diverticula |
| url | https://eor.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eor/10/1/EOR-24-0110.xml |
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