Postsurgical prevertebral abscess of the cervical spine

Late deep cervical infection after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a case report and literature review

Background

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is often performed for the treatment of degenerative cervical spine. While this procedure is highly successful, 0.1–1.6% of early and late postoperative infection have been reported although the rate of late infection is very low.

Case presentation

Here, we report a case of 59-year-old male patient who developed deep cervical abscess 30 days after anterior cervical discectomy and titanium cage bone graft fusion (autologous bone) at C3/4 and C4/5. The patient did not have esophageal perforation. The abscess was managed through radical neck dissection approach with repated washing and removal of the titanium implant. Staphylococcus aureus was positively cultured from the abscess drainage, for which appropriate antibiotics including cefoxitin, vancomycin, levofloxacin, and cefoperazone were administered postoperatively. In addition, an external Hallo frame was used to support unstable cervical spine. The patient’s deep cervical infection was healed 3 months after debridement and antibiotic administration. His cervial spine was stablized 11 months after the surgery with support of external Hallo Frame.

Conclusions

This case suggested that deep cervical infection should be considered if a patient had history of ACDF even in the absence of esophageal perforation.

Late prevertebral abscess with sinus following anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion

Anterior cervical discectomy/corpectomy and fusion is performed in degenerative, traumatic and neoplastic etiologies of the cervical spine. This procedure is highly successful and associated with fewer complications. The rates of early and late postoperative infection have been reported to be between 0.1% and 1.6%, the late infections are being very rare. We report a rare case of a 30-year-old HIV negative, non-diabetic male who developed a late prevertebral cervical abscess with discharging sinus over posterior triangle of neck 3 years after an anterior cervical C6 corpectomy with fibular grafting and buttress screw fixation performed elsewhere for traumatic fracture C6 vertebra. The abscess was drained using radical neck dissection approach with complete excision of sinus track and removal of the infected implant. On culture, the organism was found to be beta-hemolytic streptococci, for which appropriate antibiotics were administered postoperatively. The sinus tract completely healed in 3 months time. Late infection as a complication of anterior cervical spine surgeries is rare and is associated with esophageal perforation, implant migration, seeding of the deep prevertebral space with oropharyngeal flora, or from surgical site/bacteremia or with Zenker's diverticulum. Few cases have been reported till date, but none have presented with a sinus tract. We present a case of delayed prevertebral abscess after cervical spine instrumentation that followed abnormal path causing sinus track to be developed in the site (the posterior triangle of the neck) other than previous incision site. Exploring both triangles of the neck using radical neck dissection approach was essential for complete excision of sinus track, removal of screw and debridement.

Delayed anterior cervical plate dislodgement with pharyngeal wall perforation and oral extrusion of cervical plate screw after 8 years: A very rare complication

We report a patient with congenital anomaly of cervical spine, who presented with clinical features suggestive of cervical compressive spondylotic myelopathy. He underwent C3 median corpectomy, graft placement, and stabilization from C2 to C4 vertebral bodies. Postoperative period was uneventful and he improved in his symptoms. Eight years later, he presented with a difficulty in swallowing and occasional regurgitation of feeds of 2 months duration and oral extrusion of screw while having food. On oral examination, there was a defect in the posterior pharyngeal wall through which the upper end of plate with intact self-locking screw and socket of missed fixation screw was seen. This was confirmed on X-ray cervical spine. He underwent removal of the plate system and was fed through nasogastric tube and managed with appropriate antibiotics. This case is presented to report a very rare complication of anterior cervical plate fixation in the form of very late-onset dislodgement, migration of anterior cervical plate, and oral extrusion of screw through perforated posterior pharyngeal wall.

Late prevertebral abscess following anterior cervical plating: The missing screw

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.

Potentially Life-Threatening Neck Abscesses: Therapeutic Management Under CT-Guided Drainage

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of CT-guided drainage of potentially life-threatening neck abscesses.

METHODS

Between September 2001 and December 2003, 15 patients presented to the emergency room with potentially life-threatening neck abscesses. Their clinical condition was critical due to the abscess size (larger than 3 cm in diameter; mean diameter 5.2 cm, SD 0.91 cm) and/or abscess location. A CT scan was carried out immediately to assess the lesion. At the same time, under CT guidance, an 8 Fr trocar-type pigtail catheter was inserted, in order to drain the abscess. The decision to drain percutaneously was based on a consensus between the surgical, infectious disease and radiology teams . The catheter was kept in place until drainage stopped, and a follow-up scan was performed.

RESULTS

In 14 (93%) patients, the abscess was completely drained, and in 1 (7%) case the collection was still present because of multiple internal septation. That patient was treated by surgical management. The catheter was in place for a mean of 3 days (SD 0.96 day).

CONCLUSION

Despite the fact that the number of our patients is small, CT-guided percutaneous drainage seems to be a fast, safe and highly effective low-cost method for the treatment of potentially life-threatening neck abscesses.