You never know what you might find--tracheo-esophageal fistula from extrusion of a spinal fusion fixation screw.

摘要

A 41-year-old male with hepatobiliary adenocarcinoma meta-static to the cervical and thoracic spine presented with cough, copious sputum production and respiratory failure. Fourteen months antecedent, anterior fusion of C-7 to T-l and posterior spine stabilization with external rod fixation for a pathologic fracture was performed. A chest radiograph demonstrated hardware in an appropriate position (fig. la).