J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2013 Oct;48(5):407-411. 10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.5.407.

Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Delayed Hematoma after Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Biomedical Science Institute, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. lsk0107@hanmail.net

Abstract

Hematoma resulting in acute respiratory distress associated with anterior cervical spine surgery is rare; however, it is a serious adverse complication and occurs primarily within postoperative three days and is cured in the hospital. Rarely, delayed hematoma occurs after discharge from the hospital, and treatment of respiration is difficult. In this review, we report on a case of acute respiratory distress due to delayed hematoma following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, which occurred at postoperative five days.

Keyword

anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; hematoma; acute respiratory distress

MeSH Terms

Diskectomy*
Hematoma*
Respiration
Spine

Figure

  • Figure 1 (A) Lateral cervical spine radiograph on the operative day shows mild swelling in the prevertebral area. (B) Lateral radiograph at postoperative five days shows no difference of prevertebral swelling. long arrow: C5, short arrow: C7.

  • Figure 2 Lateral radiograph shows severe prevertebral swelling with acute respiratory difficulty.

  • Figure 3 (A) Computed tomography axial scan shows a massive hematoma at the C7 area, which pushes the trachea to the right. (B) Sagittal scan shows that the hematoma was located in the entire cervical spine area.

  • Figure 4 Lateral radiograph shows a decreased amount of swelling, which was compared with that taken during respiration distress.


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