Lethal Necrotising Mediastinitis: A Rare but Critical Complication Post-Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

  • Faizal Ariffianto Soehadak 1) Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia 2) Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0297-9919
  • Teddy Heri Wardhana Department of Orthoapedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga/ Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya
  • Lukas Widhiyanto 1) Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia 2) Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1241-6172
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/scriptamed56-56012
Keywords: Total disc replacement, Arthroplasty, Spine, cervical vertebrae, Intervertebral disc degeneration, Infections, Postoperative complications, Lethal infection

Abstract


Cervical disc arthroplasty is one of the common procedures for treating cervical degenerative disc disease. Anterior cervical disk arthroplasty is associated with a minimal complication rate, with documented infection rates ranging from 0.07 % to 1.6 %. This article reports on a lethal case of infection following cervical disc arthroplasty. A 42-year-old female presented with dysphagia and a sensation of choking just four weeks following cervical disc arthroplasty. Radiological examination showed soft tissue swelling and extensive subcutaneous emphysema, but no implant displacement, loosening, or subsidence was found. The patient underwent debridement surgery promptly; however, her condition deteriorated, ultimately leading to her demise—postoperative infections following cervical disc arthroplasty frequently present with ambiguous symptoms. The onset of these infections can range from several months to years. This article conveys the importance of recognising the signs of infection to facilitate early treatment for patients experiencing post-cervical disc arthroplasty infections.

 

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Published
2025/08/29
Issue
Vol. 56 No. 4 (2025): Jul-Aug
Section
Case report
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