A member asked:
What kind of complications might happen from an anterior cervical fusion?
5 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in
Dr. Larry Armstronganswered
Neurosurgery 29 years experience
See the list: Here are the risks: infection, bleeding, nerve damage, paralysis, loss of voice, ongoing numbness and tingling, failure to improve, failure of fusion, failure of instrumentation, stroke, heart attack, coma, damage to the trachea, esophagus, carotid or jugular vein,
worsening of pain, need for further surgery, spinal fluid leak, or even death.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. ..answered
Critical Care 25 years experience
Standard ACDF risks: Bleeding (possibly causing airway compromise, rarely severe due to carotid or vertebral artery prob), infection, spinal fluid leak, nerve damage, spinal cord injury (rare but not impossible), hoarseness and swallowing trouble (usually temporary, but occasionally permanent), failure of the fusion (5-10%), problems with hardware, need for more surgery, failure to relieve symptoms, risk of anesthesia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Kevin Vaughtanswered
30 years experience
Many: Hoarseness, swallowing problems, infection, instrumentation failure, failure to fuse, stroke, nerve or spinal cord injury, spinal fluid leak, adjacent segment problems in the future, continued pain, esophageal or tracheal injury, post-operative bleeding to name a few. Check out spine-health.Com.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Thomas Dowlinganswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 42 years experience
Risks include : Infection, failure if fusion healing, hardware loosening if used, voice hoarseness, swallowing issues, hematoma, spinal fluid leakage, neural injury, development of adjacent spine segment or level problems that may require further surgery, pneumonia, blood clot or DVT, injury to adjacent structures like the esophagus to name a few. Speak to your surgeon for full disclosure and rates of each.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Kathryn Koanswered
Neurosurgery 36 years experience
Long list: Many complications can occur, fortunately the procedure is done regularly with good results. My Healthtap Colleague outlined these very well.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Apr 4, 2016
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