[Postoperative cervical spondylitis. Apropos of 5 cases]

The authors reported 5 cases of post-operative cervicalgia of spondylodiscitic nature. Authors deem that this severe complication is to be attributed to the three following factors: microtraumatisms of cervical rachis with consequent local microcirculatory troubles; bacteremia provoked by anesthesiological manipulation (intubation, tracheal or oropharyngeal aspiration) or by the surgical operation and decrease in the immune response caused by operation and by used anesthetic drugs. Severe radiological alterations of the structure of cervical vertebrae and of the intersomatic space appear around 2-3 months after the surgical operation. They recover 8-12 months after the operation. They are preceded and accompanied by clinical signs and symptoms that lead the patient to go for several specialists' visits and subsequent hospitalizations. The authors think that the identification of cervicalgia of spondylodiscitic nature must lead the anesthetist to take necessary measures i.e. to immobilize the neck and to administer antibiotics.