Delayed Pharyngocutaneous Fistula After Total Laryngectomy Caused by an Anterior Cervical Spine plate

J Craniofac Surg. 2023 Jan-Feb;34(1):e90-e92. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000008919. Epub 2022 Aug 17.

Abstract

Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) caused by a previous anterior cervical spine fixation plate more than a decade ago has not been reported yet. A 70-year-old man with dysphagia was diagnosed as supraglottic cancer. After partial laryngectomy and concurrent chemoradiation, due to increasing arytenoid lesion, total laryngectomy was followed. Pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred but resolved spontaneously. However, retropharyngeal granulation tissue emerging from the anterior cervical spine fixation plate caused delayed PCF. Dysphagia and PCF resolved after fixation plate removal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Cutaneous Fistula* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cutaneous Fistula* / etiology
  • Cutaneous Fistula* / surgery
  • Deglutition Disorders* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms* / complications
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Laryngectomy / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Pharyngeal Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pharyngeal Diseases* / etiology
  • Pharyngeal Diseases* / surgery
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies