Phrenic Nerve Palsy in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Rare as Hen's Teeth

Phrenic nerve palsy is a rare but potentially serious complication. The clinical presentation can vary from being asymptomatic to severe respiratory distress requiring mechanical complication. In the Anglophone literature, there is only a single case report of bilateral phrenic nerve injury as a complication following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

This case report describes a 52-year-old female who developed right-sided phrenic nerve palsy after undergoing ACDF for cervical spine trauma. The patient had respiratory distress immediately after surgery and Ultrasonography and X-rays revealed Rt phrenic nerve palsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of unilateral phrenic nerve palsy after ACDF at the C5-C6 level.

Unilateral phrenic nerve palsy probably occurred as a complication of ACDF for cervical spine trauma. Phrenic nerve palsy should be kept in mind as a serious complication of spinal surgery.