Complications of tracheostomy after anterior cervical spine fixation surgery

Abstract Purpose Cervical traumatic spinal cord–injured patients often way require both anterior cervical spine stabilization and tracheostomy in the first few days after the injury. The infectious complication of tracheostomy can interfere with the evolution of the fixation surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety of tracheostomy performed early after anterior cervical spine stabilization. Materials and methods We reviewed the clinical records of 28 patients admitted to our hospital intensive care unit. In all cases, percutaneous tracheostomy was performed using the percutaneous dilation technique. Results The average time interval between the fixation surgery and tracheostomy was 8.25 ± 5.57 days. We had complications in tracheostomy in only 3 cases: minor bleeding occurred in 1 patient and stomal infection, not propagated to the fixation surgery wound, was observed in 2 patients. Two patients died without causal relation to these interventions. Conclusions The early performance of tracheostomy after cervical spinal fixation surgery is safe, still realized early and nearly this, at least if the tracheostomy is performed by percutaneous method.