Journal Information
Vol. 18. Issue 2.
Pages 111-114 (January 2007)
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Vol. 18. Issue 2.
Pages 111-114 (January 2007)
Late prevertebral abscess following anterior cervical plating: The missing screw
Absceso prevertebral tardío tras fusión cervical instrumentada: el tornillo ausente
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J.F. Martínez-Lage*,**,
, M. Felipe-Murcia*, L. Martínez-Lage Azorín***
* Servicio de Neurocirugía. Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia
** Grupo de Neurología y Neurocirugía Experimental (NYNE). Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Murcia. Campus de Espinardo. Murcia
*** Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital Morales Meseguer. Murcia. Spain
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Summary

A 51-year-old man underwent a C5-C7 anterior decompression and fusion. Six years later the patient complained of dysphagia caused by displacement of the cervical plate. One week after the scheduled removal of the implanted material, the patient developed a painful cervical swelling and fever. His cervical radiographs showed that a screw was missing compared to previous studies. Computerized tomography showed a large prevertebral abscess anterior to C4-C7. He underwent emergency surgical drainage of the abscess that was followed by total recovery. This report is aimed at describing this unusual complication of cervical instrumentation and to briefly review its pathogenesis and management options.

Key words:
Prevertebral cervical abscess
Cervical spine
Cervical fusion instrumentation
Esophageal perforation
Complications of spinal fusion
Resumen

Un hombre de 53 años que había sido operado de descompresión cervical anterior C5-C7 con fijación mediante placa y tornillos, se presentó 6 años después con disfagia atribuida a compresión del esófago por desplazamiento anterior de la placa, lo que motivó la retirada programada de todo el implante. Una semana más tarde, el paciente acudió a nuestro hospital con fiebre y tumoración dolorosa en la parte anterior del cuello. Las radiografías mostraron la ausencia de uno de los tornillos y la tomografía computerizada evidenció un absceso prevertebral cervical C4-C7. El absceso fue drenado de urgencia, y el paciente se recuperó totalmente. Los autores describen esta complicación infrecuente de la instrumentación cervical y revisan su patogenia y las opciones de tratamiento.

Palabras clave:
Absceso prevertebral cervical
Columna cervical
Fijación cervical instrumentada
Perforación esofágica
Complicaciones de la fusión espinal

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