{"id":"ba28d8d6-1723-462a-bb0f-2f2e2d2e8d9e","slug":"horners-syndrome-due-to-postoperative-hematoma-following-anterior-cervical-discectomy-and-fusion","title":"Horner’s syndrome due to postoperative hematoma following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion","authors":["Takayasu Ando","Hisaaki Uchikado","Taku Ohkubo","Takehiro Makizono","Gohsuke Hattori","Motohiro Morioka"],"abstract":"Background: We report a symptomatic retropharyngeal hematoma resulting in a transient Horner’s syndrome in a 51-year-old female following an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Case Description: A 51-year-old female underwent an ACDF at C5-6 for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. On postoperative day 4, she developed a retropharyngeal hematoma and Horner’s syndrome. A review of the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative findings in this patient uniquely indicated that her middle sympathetic ganglion and nerve ran inside the common carotid artery. Conclusion: Here, we report a 51-year-old-female who, following an ACDF, developed a postoperative retropharyngeal hematoma that resulted in a Horner’s syndrome attributed to a neuroanatomic anomaly (i.e., middle sympathetic ganglion was of the “medial type”).","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/ba28d8d6-1723-462a-bb0f-2f2e2d2e8d9e/featured/hero-1781557783445.png","publishDate":"2026-03-20T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_165_2026","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/ba28d8d6-1723-462a-bb0f-2f2e2d2e8d9e/pdf"}