Two Cases of Esogageal-Cutaneous Fistula after Anterior Fusion of the Cervical Spine

Satoshi Yamamoto, Hiroshi Shingu, Takeshi Nagayasu, Tadayuki Oka, Hiroharu Tsuji, Shinsuke Hara, Yutaka Tagawa, Hiroyoshi Ayabe

The First Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University School of Medicine

We experienced two cases of esogateal-cutaneous fistula anterior fusion of the cervical spine. The first patient is a 35-year-old woman who had an esogageal-cutaneous fistula after four anterior fusions of the cervical spine. She was able to start eating 6 weeks after suture of the esophageal injury and wrapping with the sternohyoid muscle. The second patient is a 49-year-old man with an esogageal-cutaneous fistula after three anterior fusions of the cervical spine. He had a simple closure of the esophageal injury, and 5 months was needed for him to start eating after surgery. We wave able to close the fistula with fibrin glue. We think more reports of such cases have been appearing along with the development of orthopedic surgery.

Key words
esophageal fistula, fibrin glue, anterior fusion of the cervical spine

Reprint requests
Satoshi Yamamoto The First Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University School of Medicine
1-7-1, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852 JAPAN

Accepted
February 12, 1997

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