Anterior cervical spine surgeries pose a risk to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), especially with right-sided roaches. A 4-year-old girl with T1 aneurysmal bone cyst and C7–T2 spondylolisthesis underwent T1 corpectomy and anterior fixation. Intraoperatively, dampened arterial waveform from a right radial arterial line coincided with retractor placement. Postoperatively, transient hoarseness suggested RLN neuropraxia. The dampened waveform likely reflected subclavian artery compression, anatomically adjacent to the right RLN. Aberrant intraoperative blood pressure or pulse oximeter readings on the ipsilateral limb may serve as surrogate markers for RLN compression, warranting retractor adjustment.
References
Gokaslan ZL, Bydon M, De la Garza-Ramos R, Smith ZA, Hsu WK, Qureshi SA, Cho SK, Baird EO, Mroz TE, Fehlings M, Arnold PM. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after cervical spine surgery: a multicenter AOSpine clinical research network study. Glob Spine J. 2017;7(1):53S-7.
Fountas KN, Kapsalaki EZ, Nikolakakos LG, Smisson HF, Johnston KW, Grigorian AA et al. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion associated complications. Spine. 2007;32(21):2310-7.
Haller JM, Iwanik M, Shen FH. Clinically relevant anatomy of recurrent laryngeal nerve. Spine. 2012;37(2):97-100.
Tan TP, Govindarajulu AP, Massicotte EM, Venkatraghavan L. Vocal cord palsy after anterior cervical spine surgery: a qualitative systematic review. Spine J. 2014;14(7):1332-42.
Jung A, Schramm J. How to reduce recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in anterior cervical spine surgery: a prospective observational study. Neurosurgery. 2010;67(1):10-5.
×
How to Cite This Article
Vancouver
Anand R, Palaksha DG. Ignorance shown on arterial waveform and impending recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was missed during anterior cervical spine surgery [Internet]. South Asian J Health Prof. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 03];8(3):93-95. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.sajhp.v.8.i.3.6
APA
Anand, R., Palaksha, D. G. (2025). Ignorance shown on arterial waveform and impending recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was missed during anterior cervical spine surgery. South Asian J Health Prof, 8(3), 93-95. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.sajhp.v.8.i.3.6
MLA
Anand, Raksha, Palaksha, Deepak Ganjigere. "Ignorance shown on arterial waveform and impending recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was missed during anterior cervical spine surgery." South Asian J Health Prof, vol. 8, no. 3, 2025, pp. 93-95. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.sajhp.v.8.i.3.6
Chicago
Anand, R., Palaksha, D. G.. "Ignorance shown on arterial waveform and impending recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was missed during anterior cervical spine surgery." South Asian J Health Prof 8, no. 3 (2025): 93-95. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.sajhp.v.8.i.3.6