Anterior cervical fixation is a common surgical procedure for cervical instability, and complications are very rare. However, one major complication is implant loosening, which may cause dysphagia or even esophageal perforation.
We report a patient with abnormal sensation of the larynx and esophageal perforation that occurred 18 years after reconstruction of the cervical spine using paramethoxymethamphetamine.
A 72-year-old male had previously undergone reconstruction of the cervical spine using paramethoxymethamphetamine in 1990. He visited a hospital complaining of abnormal sensation of the larynx 18 years after the surgery. Gastric fiberscopy revealed a foreign body in the esophagus, and he was referred to our clinic.
Although the patient had no local or general symptoms, CT scan showed paramethoxymethamphetamine coming out of the lumen of the cervical esophagus from its posterior wall. Video-fluorography revealed no esophageal stenosis.
Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with late-onset esophageal perforation after the anterior cervical operation. The need to perform emergent surgery was explained to him, but he refused to undergo the surgery.
He is now under careful follow-up at the out-patient clinic. So far, he has not complained of any pharyngeal or laryngeal symptoms.
