The impact of automatic retractors on the esophagus during anterior cervical surgery: an experimental in vivo study in a sheep model

Abstract

Object. Postoperative dysphagia is a well-recognized complication of the anterior surgical approach to the cervical spine. However, its incidence and etiology remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of automatic retractor use on the esophagus and to describe the related pathological changes that might occur during cervical spine Surgery.