Cervical osteomyelitis after esophageal perforation.

A patient with diabetes mellitus who sustained an iatrogenic perforation of the cervical esophagus subsequently had osteomyelitis of the cervical spine involving the bodies of C-6 and C-7. This occurred despite early and aggressive surgical treatment of the perforation. Roentgenograms of the cervical spine should be included in the follow-up of selected patients treated for perforation of the esophagus.