Descending necrotizing mediastinitis caused by a minor whiplash injury.

We describe a case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis from a very unusual origin, caused by cervical oesophageal perforation by osteophytes after an apparently minor whiplash injury. Diagnosis was delayed by atypical and predominantly neurological clinical presentation. Despite late presentation, minimally invasive access surgical debridement of mediastinum and cervical injury site lead to full recovery.