Repair cervical esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery using thyroid and thyroid capsule: a case report and literature review

According to the literature review, using thyroid and thyroid capsule to repair cervical esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery was just mentioned, but no literature reported operative process in detail. In this study, a 51-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital because of cervical spine injury. The patient underwent anterior cervical discectomy with the iliac bone graft and ORION plate fixation. Esophageal perforation occurred after anterior cervical spine surgery. After conservative treatment, esophageal perforation didn't heal. A repairing operation was performed to remove the plate and repair esophageal perforation using sternocleidomastoid flap. After repairing surgery 6 months, perforation didn't heal completely. A second repairing surgery was performed to repair esophageal perforation using thyroid and its capsule. After second repairing surgery, esophageal perforation healed. The present study reviewed the literature about cause, clinical manifestation, diagnosis method and treatment of esophageal perforation. Using thyroid and thyroid capsule to repair cervical esophageal perforation could offer a treatment option in repairing esophageal perforation, especially the esophageal perforation after muscle flap repair still didn't heal.