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| Home > Surgical Treatments > Decompression > Cervical Corpectomy - Risks/Complications |
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ANTERIOR CERVICAL CORPECTOMY
Possible Risks/Complications
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The expected outcome from decompression/fusion procedures of the neck is good. Similar to a discectomy, the risks and possible complications include:
- Nerve root damage
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Graft dislodgment
- Damage to the trachea/esophagus
- Continued pain
- Death
The small nerve that supplies stimulus (innervation) to the vocal cords, the recurrent laryngeal nerve, will sometimes not function for several months after surgery because of retraction during the procedure, which can cause temporary hoarseness. Retraction of the esophagus can also produce temporary difficulty with swallowing (1 to 2 weeks).
However, a corpectomy is a more extensive procedure and is usually performed for more severe disease. The risks are therefore greater in corpectomy than discectomy. The risk that surgeons worry about the most is compromise of the spinal cord that can lead to complete or partial quadriplegia. To help manage this risk, the spinal cord function is often monitored during surgery by Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP's). SSEP's generate a small electrical impulse in the arms/legs, measure the corresponding response in the brain, and record the length of time it takes the signal to get to the brain. Any marked slowing in the length of time may indicate compromise to the spinal cord.
There is also a slight risk that while removing the vertebral body the vertebral artery that runs on the side of the spine may be violated, which can lead to a cerebrovascular accident (stroke).
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