Frequency, recognition, and management of postoperative hematomas following anterior cervical spine surgery: A review

We reviewed the frequency, recognition, and management of postoperative hematomas (HT) (i.e. retropharyngeal [RFH], wound [WH], and/or spinal epidural hematomas [SEH]) following anterior cervical discectomy/fusion (ACDF), anterior corpectomy fusion (ACF), and/or anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS).

Postoperative cervical hematomas following ACDF, ACF, and ACSS ranged from 0.4% to 1.2% in a series of 11 studies involving a total of 44, 030 patients. These included; 4 single case reports, 2 small case series (6 and 30 cases), 4 larger series (758-2375 for a total of 6729 patients), an a large NSQUIP (National Surgical Quality Improvement Program ) Database involving 37,261 ACDF patients.

Risk factors contributing to postoperative cervical hematomas included; DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), therpeutic heparin levels, longer operative times, multilevel surgery, ASA Scores of +/= 3, (American Society of Anesthesiologists), prone surgery, operative times > 4 hours, smoking, higher/lower body mass index (BMI), anemia, age >65, > medical comorbidities, and male gender. Notably, the use of drains did not prevent HT, and did not increase the infection, or reoperation rates.

In our review of 11 studies focused on anterior cervical surgery, the incidence of postoperative hematomas ranged from 0.4 to 1.2%. Early recognition of these postoperative hemorrhages, and appropriate management (surgical/non-surgical) are critical to optimize recovery, and limit morbidity, and mortality.