Korean J Spine.  2014 Mar;11(1):22-24. 10.14245/kjs.2014.11.1.22.

Late Infection from Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion after Twenty Years

• Jin SW
• Kim SH
• Choi JI
• Ha SK
• Lim DJ

• KMID: 2288385
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2014.11.1.22

Abstract

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been performed for degenerative and traumatic cervical diseases to improve pain and neurologic symptoms including sensory change and motor weakness. Infection, however, is a rare complication of ACDF, and late infection is even much rarer. We present a case of late Infection from ACDF C4-5 using Biocompatible Osteoconductive Polymer (BOP) after twenty years in the absence of an esophageal perforation, Zenker's diverticulum, or recent surgery or bacteremia. Late infection from ACDF after 20 years is extremely rare in the literature. However, possibility of such a late complication should be appreciated during the follow-up period and surgical resection will be required for proper treatment.

Keyword

Infection; Late complication; Late infection

MeSH Terms

Bacteremia
Diskectomy*
Esophageal Perforation
Follow-Up Studies
Neurologic Manifestations
Polymers
Zenker Diverticulum
Polymers