Pediatric parapharyngeal infection resulting in cervical instability and occipital-cervical fusion-case report and review of the literature

Yi-Ren Chen; Jon Sole; Rashad Jabarkheel; Michael Edwards; Samuel Cheshier

doi:10.1007/s00381-019-04083-6

Pediatric parapharyngeal infection resulting in cervical instability and occipital-cervical fusion-case report and review of the literature

Childs Nerv Syst. 2019 May;35(5):893-895. doi: 10.1007/s00381-019-04083-6. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Authors

Yi-Ren Chen¹, Jon Sole², Rashad Jabarkheel², Michael Edwards³, Samuel Cheshier^{4

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Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Standford, 94305, CA, USA.
² Stanford University School of Medicine, Standford, CA, USA.
³ Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Standford, 94305, CA, USA. [email protected].
⁴ Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Standford, 94305, CA, USA. [email protected].
⁵ Stanford University School of Medicine, Standford, CA, USA. [email protected].
⁶ Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Primary Children's Hospital, University of Utah School of Medicine, 100 North Mario Capecchi Drive, Salt Lake City, 84113, UT, USA. [email protected].

PMID: 30778663
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-019-04083-6

Abstract

Parapharyngeal infection is the most common deep neck space infection in children and, in rare instances, can result in bony destruction of the cervical spine. We report one such case that required occipital to cervical fusion and halo-vest fixation. We also review the literature and discuss the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for managing pediatric cervical bony destruction secondary to infection.

Keywords: Cervical fusion; Cervical spine; Parapharyngeal infection.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Atlanto-Axial Joint / diagnostic imaging
Atlanto-Axial Joint / surgery*
Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
Cervical Vertebrae / surgery*
Female
Humans
Infant
Joint Instability / diagnostic imaging
Joint Instability / etiology
Joint Instability / surgery*
Occipital Bone / diagnostic imaging
Occipital Bone / surgery
Parapharyngeal Space / diagnostic imaging
Parapharyngeal Space / microbiology
Parapharyngeal Space / surgery*
Spinal Fusion / methods*
Staphylococcal Infections / complications
Staphylococcal Infections / diagnostic imaging
Staphylococcal Infections / surgery*