Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Delayed Hematoma after Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion

Kyung-Jin Song; Su-Kyung Lee; Kwang-Bok Lee

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.5.407

Journal List > J Korean Orthop Assoc > v.48(5) > 1013259

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Song, Lee, and Lee: Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Delayed Hematoma after Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2013; 48(5): 407-411.

Published online: 25 October 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.5.407

Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Delayed Hematoma after Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion

Kyung-Jin Song, M.D., Su-Kyung Lee, M.D., Kwang-Bok Lee, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Biomedical Science Institute, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.

Correspondence to: Su-Kyung Lee, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, 20 Geonji-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-712, Korea. TEL: +82-63-250-2300, FAX: +82-63-271-6538, lsk0107@hanmail.net

Received 4 August 2013 Revised 19 August 2013 Accepted 3 September 2013

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Hematoma resulting in acute respiratory distress associated with anterior cervical spine surgery is rare; however, it is a serious adverse complication and occurs primarily within postoperative three days and is cured in the hospital. Rarely, delayed hematoma occurs after discharge from the hospital, and treatment of respiration is difficult. In this review, we report on a case of acute respiratory distress due to delayed hematoma following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, which occurred at postoperative five days.

Keywords: anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, hematoma, acute respiratory distress

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

(A) Lateral cervical spine radiograph on the operative day shows mild swelling in the prevertebral area. (B) Lateral radiograph at postoperative five days shows no difference of prevertebral swelling. long arrow: C5, short arrow: C7.

Figure 2

Lateral radiograph shows severe prevertebral swelling with acute respiratory difficulty.

Figure 3

(A) Computed tomography axial scan shows a massive hematoma at the C7 area, which pushes the trachea to the right. (B) Sagittal scan shows that the hematoma was located in the entire cervical spine area.

Figure 4

Lateral radiograph shows a decreased amount of swelling, which was compared with that taken during respiration distress.

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