Esophageal perforation by osteosynthesis material after ventral spondylodesis of the cervical spine

Esophageal perforation after cervical spine surgery is a rare complication. Based on the case of a 77-year-old female patient with a late, asymptomatic esophageal perforation after a ventral spondylodesis of the cervical spine,the symptoms, diagnostics, and therapy of this complication are discussed. The therapy of choice is the operation. Nonoperative therapy should only be chosen - like in our case - for special indications. An esophageal perforation with symptoms should be treated operatively. Our patient was treated conservatively in consideration of her age and missing symptoms.