[Complications after surgery of the anterior cervical spine]

Every year several thousands of operations on the cervical spine from anterior approach are performed in the world for decompression of spinal cord and nerve roots. It is estimated that in 0.2 to 12% of the operations serious intraoperative and postoperative complications occur. Such cases have been reported in the world literature but in scant numbers. The authors discuss early and late complications after operations on the cervical spine connected with the surgical method.