Esophagocutaneous fistula in spinal cord injury: a complication of anterior cervical fusion.

Esophageal perforation can be a difficult management problem in a patient with spinal cord injury. Meticulous history taking and physical examination are essential for diagnosis. A quadriplegic patient with the unusual complication of esophagocutaneous fistula following anterior cervical fusion was admitted to our spinal cord injury service for intensive rehabilitation. Although early surgery is the usual treatment, conservative management with emphasis on local wound care can lead to satisfactory healing of the fistula. Because of the halo vest traction device used to maintain the surgical reduction of the cervical fracture, it was decided to treat the patient's fistula conservatively. Difficulties with feeding, diarrhea, and recurrent drainage that complicated the nonoperative treatment were successfully managed while the patient underwent intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation. The patient was discharged ambulating independently without any orthotic device a day after complete closure of the esophagocutaneous fistula.