Esophageal penetration by an anterior cervical fixation device. A case report.

Esophageal complications following anterior cervical fusion procedures have been reported in the literature as rare complications of such surgery. The complications associated with esophageal penetration have ranged from minor complications to mediastinitis and death. The following case report is of a rare complication of penetration of the esophagus by an anterior cervical fixation device that resulted in a benign post-operative course.