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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in the Ovine Model
Published on: October 5, 2009
Oropharyngeal CSF Leak Secondary to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Wyatt J Weinheimer1, Justin G Rowley2, Randal Otto1
1Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MC 7777, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Abstract:
We present a case of an oropharyngeal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula in a patient that presented with headache, rhinorrhea, and pneumocephalus years after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Imaging suggested a defect in the fovea ethmoidalis, but endoscopic surgery revealed the defect in the oropharynx. A second procedure was performed to remove the spinal hardware and repair the leak. This case is not only unique in the literature but also highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis to include rare complications and shows that despite dramatic improvements in imaging, locating CSF leaks still presents a challenge.
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