The cisterna chyli in orthopaedic surgery.

The cisterna chyli is normally hidden in prevertebral tissue and rarely encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. However, hyperextension injury and anterior surgical approach to the spine can result in injury and the complication of chylothorax. Prevention of postoperative chylothorax is mainly through awareness of normal anatomic distribution. If a chylothorax occurs, conservative treatment should be instituted (ie, thoracentesis and/or intercostal tube drainage). If drainage persists, exploration may be required to ligate ducts. Intraoperative discovery of an injury can be treated with ligation or repair. Ten orthopaedic spine surgeons were surveyed (estimated 1000 anterior spinal approaches) disclosing observation of the structure 12 times and chylothorax on only three occasions. When using the anterior approach in both spinal trauma and deformity, one must be aware of the structure and the potential complication of injury.