PMID: 9161553Jan 1, 1997Paper

Spontaneous elimination by the natural tracts of screws of anterior cervical osteosynthesis. Apropos of a case

Revue de chirurgie orthopédique et réparatrice de l'appareil moteur
H ChataignerM Onimus

Abstract

The authors report a case of a wellknown but very unusual complication of cervical spine anterior osteosynthesis: spontaneous recurrent elimination of anterior fixation device through the gastrointestinal track, with good outcome. The patient (75 years old) was operated on for cervical myelopathia due to cervical stenosis. Surgical treatment included an anterior release with corporectomy of C4, C5 and C6 and iliac graft insertion, and fixation using plate and screws. Immediate post-operative course was uneventful. Plate incurvation and rupture were observed during the second post-operative month, with partial anterior migration of the lower screw. As the patient complained of dysphagia, removal of osteosynthesis was decided and scheduled 3 days later; however the screw was missing on a pre-operative radiograph. It was found on a routine abdominal X-Ray, and it passed out during the following week. Dysphagia disappeared in a few days and removal of osteosynthesis was given up for fear of oesophageal complications. Further evolution was favourable. Cervical fusion was obtained uneventfully. Post-operative myelmogram showed a good canal enlargement. The patient was temporarily lost for follow-up and was asked for review 2 years la...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cardiomegaly

Cardiomegaly, known as an enlarged heart, is a multifactorial disease with different pathophysiological mechanisms. Hypertension, pregnancy, exercise-induced and idiopathic causes are some mechanisms of cardiomegaly. Discover the latest research of cardiomegaly here.

© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved