Introduction:

The anterior cervical spine surgery is a routine procedure for the fixation of unstable vertebral fractures; the indications for stabilization of the vertebrae are osteomyelitis, spinal tumors and trauma.

Objective:

To inform about one of the rare and potentially dangerous complications of the cervical spine fixation by anterior approach.

Patients and methods:

CASE 1: A 41 year-old male patient who had a car accident. The tomography shows a fracture of the anterior arch of C1 and a spinous process fracture of C5-C6. He underwent surgery, and osteosynthesis with plate fixation was placed. A month later he presented esophageal perforation, and underwent surgery again. Osteosynthesis was removed, drainage was performed and a VAC system was placed. He was discharged by adequate evolution.

CASE 2: A 53 year-old female patient, began her condition a month earlier with cervicodorsal pain. A magnetic resonance was performed finding disc herniation C4-C5, C5-C6. An arthroplasty with prosthesis in C4-C5 was performed. Five months later, she presented migration of the prosthetic implant and underwent surgery again to remove the prosthesis, presenting esophageal perforation. The surgical wound was washed and a VAC system was placed with satisfactory evolution.

Results:

A cervical perforation after an anterior cervical spine surgery is a rare complication; an early diagnosis is crucial.