Retropharyngeal abscess with secondary osteomyelitis and epidural abscess: proposed pathophysiological mechanism of an underrecognized complication of unstable craniocervical injuries: case report.
Because of the proximity of the oropharynx (a naturally contaminated region) to the spinal structures of the craniocervical junction, it is possible that small mucosal lacerations in the oropharynx caused by unstable traumatic craniocervical injuries may become contaminated and lead to secondary infection and osteomyelitis. In this report, the authors describe the case of a previously healthy and immunocompetent patient who developed a large retropharyngeal abscess with spinal osteomyelitis after a high-energy craniocervical injury. This unusual report of osteomyelitis with a delayed presentation after a high-energy traumatic injury of the craniocervical junction highlights the possibility of direct injury to a specific area in the oropharyngeal mucosa adjacent to the osteoligamentous structures of the craniocervical junction, an overall underrecognized complication of unstable craniocervical injuries.
['Goulart|Carlos R|CR|', 'Mattei|Tobias A|TA|', 'Fiore|Mariano E|ME|', 'Thoman|William J|WJ|', 'Mendel|Ehud|E|']
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae D020802:Epidural Abscess D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010019:Osteomyelitis D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess D020196:Trauma, Nervous System D016896:Treatment Outcome
retropharyngeal abscess osteomyelitis epidural abscess traumatic craniocervical injuries infection ALL = anterior longitudinal ligament MSSA = methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus OSU = The Ohio State University RPS = retropharyngeal space SEA = spinal epidural abscess TLIF = transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion trauma traumatic spinal injuries whiplash