Early complications of simple anterior cervical discectomy

ABSTRACT

To analyze early complications after simple anterior cervical discectomy. This descriptive study was conducted at the department of Neurosurgery, Post-graduate medical institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from January 2009 to December, 2010. Ninety five [95] consecutive patients who underwent single level anterior cervical discectomy without bone grafting for degenerative cervical disc herniation were included in the study irrespective of their age and gender. The patients were observed for post-operative complications for a period of 8weeks after surgery. The patients were observed for complications during hospital stay, 1[st] follow up at 2 weeks and 2[nd] follow up after 8 weeks of surgery. Out of 95 cases, 67.4% [n=64] were males and 32.6% [31] females. Majority [n=29, 30.5%] patients were in the age range of 41-50years, 24.2% [n=23] in the age group of 31-40 years and 20% [n=19] in the age range of 21-30 years. Almost 70.5% [n=67] of the patients presented within 6 months of onset of their symptoms. The commonest complication after surgery was transient hoarseness in 3.2% [n=3] cases. We had post-op dysphagia and discitis each in 2.1% [n=2] patients. The overall morbidity was 8.5% [n=8]. One patient died because of anesthesia complication and not because of surgery complications