Success in esophageal perforation repair with open-wound management after revision cervical spine surgery: a case report

Case report. To share our successful experience in treating 1 case of esophageal perforation after anterior revision cervical spine surgery with open-wound management. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment is widely adopted in the management of esophageal complications after anterior cervical spine surgery, but the management of wound after surgical repair of esophageal perforation is rarely discussed. One patient underwent revision anterior cervical spine surgery because of displaced hardware and poor alignment of cervical spine. Esophageal perforation was incurred intraoperatively and found on the first postoperative day. Repair surgery was carried out immediately afterward. During the surgery, esophageal perforation was closed with a suture, and reinforced with a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. The wound was loosely closed with aspirating drainage. Two days after the surgery, the patient began to show signs of recurrent esophageal leakage and severe secondary wound infection. The wound was then reopened completely before a continuous irrigation and drainage system was positioned in place. In 12 weeks, the esophageal perforation healed without complications or loosening of instrumentation. Open-wound management succeeded in this patient after surgical repair of esophageal perforation caused by revision anterior cervical spine surgery. 4.