Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum following cervical corpectomy and plating

Abstract

This case of a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum was diagnosed 3 years after a corpectomy and fusion for a cervical fracture. The diverticulum was excised, the plate and screws were removed, and the patient was asymptomatic 3 years later. The dense scar tissue around the hardware probably caused traction on the posterior pharyngoesophageal region, followed by development of the diverticulum. The authors speculate that the malpositioning of the hardware was an irritative factor promoting such a scar. To the best of their knowledge, this is the first reported case of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum following cervical corpectomy and plating.