Retropharyngeal abscess, airway obstruction, and tetraplegia after hyperextension injury of the cervical spine: case report.

A retropharyngeal abscess resulted from perforation of the posterior pharyngeal wall by an anterior marginal osteophyte at the time of hyperextension injury of the cervical spine. The abscess communicated with the epidural space via the disrupted intervertebral disk, leading to the delayed onset of upper airway obstruction and tetraparesis.