Delayed neck infection following anterior spine surgery

Pharyngoesophageal perforation and neck abscess formation is a rare complication of anterior cervical spine surgery. This complication usually manifests itself within the early postoperative period and is associated with soft tissue trauma at the time of surgery. We describe two cases of retropharyngeal abscesses and persistent pharyngocutaneous fistulae which occurred in a delayed fashion several months after cervical spine surgery. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this problem is discussed with a review of the current literature.