Blade-Related Vertebral Fracture After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with a Zero-Profile Cage: A Case Report.

CASE: We present a case of a 79-year-old man with degenerative cervical myelopathy treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a zero-profile cage. Postoperatively, the patient experienced a rare complication of anchoring blade-related adjacent vertebral fracture leading to construct failure and recurrence of myelopathic symptoms, necessitating revision surgery.

CONCLUSION

This case emphasizes the importance of precision in the surgical technique, specifically in the placement of Caspar pins and anchoring blades. It also underscores the need for a high index of suspicion for potential hardware-related complications in patients presenting with recurring symptoms post-ACDF, contributing to the understanding of such rare complications.